Japan approves first round of health insurance reforms
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Japan's lower house of parliament, the Diet, has given final approval to a bill aimed at reforming the health insurance system. The new legislation will double contributions to healthcare costs paid by corporate employees from 10% to 20% with effect from September. In-patient fees for people aged over 70 will increase from ¥10 ($5.60) to Yen1,200 per day from fiscal 1999.