health and life2

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Adverse reform bills proposed that can destroy universal medical insurance system

The government on February 10 submitted to the Diet "reform" bills that will weaken the universal medical insurance system by forcing elderly people and those seriously ill to pay more.

People 70 and older with incomes comparable to that of working generations will have to pay 30 percent of their medical charges at hospitals from October, instead of the present 20 percent. Those elderly people who are long-term inpatients will have to pay anew for their beds and meals. People 74 and older, who now pay 10 percent of their medical charges at hospitals, will have to pay 20 percent.

Under the so-called "reform," the government will set up a new system in April 2008 to be exclusively and separately designed for elderly people and funded by reducing part of their pensions in advance. Medical facilities for nursing care will be abolished in 2012.

These adverse steps against the elderly and seriously ill are ostensibly aimed at reducing the total national medical cost. But it will destroy the basic principle that medical insurance premiums guarantee necessary medical services for every holder. It will be the start of medical service gaps according to income gaps.

The Japan Medical Association has expressed firm opposition to the bills, saying that they will "destroy the universal medical insurance system."
- Akahata, February 11, 2006