September 7, 2012
The higher rate in patients’ share of burden for medical costs makes more patients hesitate to go see a doctor, according to the results of a survey released on September 5 by the Japan Medical Association (JMA).
The JMA for the first time surveyed outpatients regarding their share of medical payments at JMA-member clinics and hospitals.
In categorizing people eligible for public insurance programs, Japan sets a 10% share payment mainly on elderly people (category 1), 20% on pre-school children and some elderly people (category 2), and 30% on others and some elderly people (category 3).
According to the survey, 6.6% of the patients in category 1 answered that they had refrained from visiting doctors for financial reasons during the past year. Out of the category 2 patients, 10.2% answered they had, followed by 11.5% of the category 3 patients. The majority of these patients said their medical conditions worsened as a result of less visits to doctors.
The percentage of those who answered that they feel their co-payment burdens are heavy to some extent is: 38.2% of those in category 1, 58.3% in category 2, and 66.5% in category 3. These figures suggest that the higher the medical share is, the heavier the burden that payers feel.
In response to the question what if their payment share increases, 33% of the category 1, 52.7% of the category 2, and 50.8% of the category 3 patients answered that they would reduce the number of hospital visits. More than 80% of all respondents showed some kind of opposition to an increase in patients’ share for medical costs.
The JMA fears a further gap between patients who refrain from going to see doctors for financial reasons and those who do not hesitate to go whatever their share is.
“Careful consideration is necessary in regards to a possible increase in the patients’ share of medical payments at hospitals and an introduction of a mixed-medical service system which is the combination of medical treatment covered by public healthcare insurance and uninsured private practice,” the JMA concluded.
The JMA for the first time surveyed outpatients regarding their share of medical payments at JMA-member clinics and hospitals.
In categorizing people eligible for public insurance programs, Japan sets a 10% share payment mainly on elderly people (category 1), 20% on pre-school children and some elderly people (category 2), and 30% on others and some elderly people (category 3).
According to the survey, 6.6% of the patients in category 1 answered that they had refrained from visiting doctors for financial reasons during the past year. Out of the category 2 patients, 10.2% answered they had, followed by 11.5% of the category 3 patients. The majority of these patients said their medical conditions worsened as a result of less visits to doctors.
The percentage of those who answered that they feel their co-payment burdens are heavy to some extent is: 38.2% of those in category 1, 58.3% in category 2, and 66.5% in category 3. These figures suggest that the higher the medical share is, the heavier the burden that payers feel.
In response to the question what if their payment share increases, 33% of the category 1, 52.7% of the category 2, and 50.8% of the category 3 patients answered that they would reduce the number of hospital visits. More than 80% of all respondents showed some kind of opposition to an increase in patients’ share for medical costs.
The JMA fears a further gap between patients who refrain from going to see doctors for financial reasons and those who do not hesitate to go whatever their share is.
“Careful consideration is necessary in regards to a possible increase in the patients’ share of medical payments at hospitals and an introduction of a mixed-medical service system which is the combination of medical treatment covered by public healthcare insurance and uninsured private practice,” the JMA concluded.
