National Aug 23, 2019
The proposal would end coverage for prescription and nonprescription drugs with identical ingredients, saving ¥60 billion a year but forcing patients to pay the full cost.
National Aug 2, 2019
Japan's social security benefits topped ¥120 trillion to hit record high in 2017
Social security benefits paid out in fiscal 2017 reached a record high and exceeded ¥120 trillion for the first time, a welfare ministry-affiliated think tank said Friday. The figure for the year to March 2018 stood at ¥120.24 trillion, up 1.6 percent from the previous ...
Editorials Jun 1, 2019
The cost of new and expensive pharmaceuticals need to be reigned in to keep the national health care system solvent.
National / Science & Health May 29, 2019
Genetic tests for identifying cancer treatments to be covered by Japan's public health insurance
Coverage for genomic testing starting Saturday will be applied to those who don’t respond to conventional treatments, with patients only paying 10 to 30 percent of the fees.
National | YEN FOR LIVING May 9, 2019
Cracks forming in Japan's premium-based universal health care system
by Philip Brasor and Masako Tsubuku
One of the issues U.S. voters say they care the most about right now is health care. America is almost alone in the developed world in not providing its citizens with universal medical care. Japan, on the other hand, has universal health, though it differs ...
Business Apr 19, 2019
40% of Japan's health insurance unions on course to dissolve by 2022 as costs for elderly rise
Over 40 percent of health insurance unions known as kenpo, mainly for employees of large companies, are facing increased pressure to dissolve themselves by fiscal 2022, reflecting sharp increases projected for their contributions to the medical system for the elderly, it was learned Thursday. The ...
World / Politics Dec 16, 2018
Outraged Democrats vow to challenge court ruling that undercuts Obamacare
Outraged Democrats vowed to appeal a federal judge's ruling that could undo the U.S. health care law known as Obamacare, saying on Saturday that they will use their new power in Congress to hold Republicans responsible and "expose their lies." U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor ...
National / Social Issues | Deep Dive Jun 17, 2018
As tourism numbers spike, Japan's hospitals face payment and language challenges
by Reiji Yoshida
For a Filipino man visiting Tokyo in May last year, the tour of the capital was supposed to be a fun sightseeing trip. But the man collapsed after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage and was rushed to NTT Medical Center Tokyo in Shinagawa Ward for an ...
National / Social Issues | Deep Dive Jun 17, 2018
Travelers without insurance cause headaches for Japan's hospitals
by Mizuho Aoki
Are you insured? As Japan sees a record-breaking number of foreign visitors, a major hospital near Narita airport is struggling to deal with an increasing number of uninsured patients who can't pay for the medical treatment they've received. "Most of the foreign visitors we treat are ...
National / Social Issues Jun 14, 2018
Japan's social security net for transgender people improving but obstacles loom for seniors
People diagnosed with gender dysphoria in Japan are getting more support from social security, including the ability to have the names they usually go by printed on their health insurance cards and to get coverage for gender reassignment surgery under certain conditions. But even as ...
Editorials May 24, 2018
Discussions must start now on making sure the social welfare system can meet Japan's future needs.
Business | YEN FOR LIVING Oct 22, 2016
Shocking blog post forces debate on the financial drain of dialysis in Japan
by Philip Brasor and Masako Tsubuku
About 0.25 percent of the population requires dialysis, but this group is responsible for one-30th of the country's medical costs.