Refund of elderly people's hospital bills should be made easier: JCP Hatano

In the House of Councilors Audit Committee meeting on March 8, Japanese Communist Party representative Hatano Kimie demanded that the complicated procedure for elderly people to receive refunds of major medical expenses be abolished.

Hatano revealed that from October 2002 to October 2003, 6.8 billion yen in medical expenses that was supposed to be paid back to elderly patients was not refunded. "This really is the problem of this system," she said.

Under the present refund system, elderly patients first have to pay 10 percent of their medical costs at hospitals. If the amount of their total medical bills in a month exceeds the government-set limit, they can claim a refund from the municipal government.

Hatano also requested that insured patients' share of medical costs be decreased to the previous 20 percent, stating that many have been discouraged from visiting hospitals since the rate was increased to 30 percent last April.

Pointing out that 40 billion yen is needed to lower the people's share of medical costs to 20 percent, Hatano referred to a resort facility which has been built by using 45.5 billion yen from the employment insurance fund. "If the government stops wasting tax money in this manner, it can easily create funds to defend citizens' lives and health," she stressed. (end)