JCP proposes measures to help low-income elderly people in need of nursing care

The Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers Group on June 6 submitted to the government a JCP proposal for aid to low-income users of the nursing care health insurance, which presently charges every senior citizen for the services.

The JCP proposal calling for public assistance to those in need includes a waiver of the contribution payment which is scheduled to start in October for every citizen 65 or older.

The public nursing care health insurance system started in April 2000. The past year under the new system has revealed a mountain of problems. To ease public criticism, the government has kept individual contributions at half the amount of regular charges.

Elderly people with low incomes have been hard hit by the new system. In addition to the mandatory contribution payment, the imposition of user fees of ten percent has become a heavy burden, forcing needy seniors out of necessary care services which were available to them for free under former public welfare programs. (end)