Overview
- Japan’s health ministry presented a draft to lift the late‑stage elderly premium cap from ¥800,000 to ¥850,000 for fiscal 2026–27, and an advisory council subcommittee approved it.
- The increase targets high‑income seniors, such as those with combined pension and salary of at least ¥11.5 million, affecting about 1.2% of enrollees.
- Officials say the change is intended to curb sharp burden increases for middle‑income elderly as medical costs rise with population aging.
- The ministry is also preparing a second straight reduction in the employment insurance rate to about 1.35% in fiscal 2026, with details to be reviewed by the Labor Policy Council.
- For long‑term care, officials are weighing a broader 20% copay with safeguards that cap monthly increases and keep 10% copays for people below certain asset levels, alongside talks on higher outpatient copays for those 70 and older.