Japan Press Weekly

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2008 September 17 - 23 [WELFARE]

Democratic Party joins ruling parties in rejecting petition for cancellation of discriminatory health insurance system for the elderly

The Democratic Party in the Diet has submitted a bill to abolish the newly introduced health insurance system discriminating against the elderly aged 75 and over. But this same party in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly has joined with the ruling Liberal and Komei parties in opposing acceptance of petitions demanding a moratorium and ultimate abolition of the unfair health insurance system.

At the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Committee on Health and Welfare on September 16, the Japanese Communist Party and Seikatusha Net proposed that the legislature accept and consider the petition.

The Democratic Party on the committee voted against the proposal. An LDP representative offhandedly said to the DPJ members, “Are you sure (not to adopt it)?”

In the Health and Welfare Committee, JCP Metropolitan Assembly member Yoshida Nobuo said, “It is our responsibility to respond to the mounting, widespread criticism by Tokyo citizens and by the medical and welfare service communities calling for elimination of the discriminatory health insurance system. Anger is increasing quickly as a matter of course because the elderly are discriminated against when they turn 75.”

The citizen’s group advocating better services in May submitted to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly the petition demanding cancellation and abolition of the health insurance system for the elderly aged 75 and over, cancellation of the increase in the rate of payment for doctor’s bills that the elderly aged 70-74 are required to pay at hospital, and financial support for decreasing insurance premiums.