Measures for reducing cost burdens for persons aged 70-74

The copayment rate for medical care costs for elderly persons aged 70-74 is lower than for younger persons.

  • *When you reach age 75, you will become an insured person under the Medical Care System for the Advanced Elderly.See herefor more information.

Copayment rate for medical care costs

The copayment rate for medical care costs for elderly persons aged 70-74 is lower than for younger persons. Persons aged 70-74 must present their elderly benefits cards when undergoing examinations.

  • * We recommend using a Myna health insurance card. Doing so eliminates the need to present an elderly benefits card.

The copayment rate for individuals aged 70-74

  • ** Copayments for persons aged 70-74 (excluding persons earning income at the same levels as active workers) remained at 10% from April 2008 through March 2014. For persons turning 70 on or after April 1, 2014 (i.e., those born on or after April 2, 1944), the copayment will be 20%, starting with examinations or treatments in the month following the month in which they turn 70.
  • ** Copayments will remain at 10% for persons turning 70 on or before March 31, 2014 (i.e., for those born April 2, 1939, through April 1, 1944).

Cost-sharing maximum amounts for high-cost medical care

A per-person cost-sharing maximum amount for outpatient care and a combined cost-sharing maximum amount for total outpatient and inpatient cost-sharing amounts per household apply in cases in which more than one member is covered under the same medical insurance plan within one household.
For high-cost medical care for which the total amount paid per household exceeds the cost-sharing maximum amount, you will be refunded the excess amount at a later date.

Category Cost-sharing maximum amount
Per person
(Outpatient)
Per household
(Outpatient and inpatient)
Persons earning income at levels comparable to active workers
(Elderly benefits card copayment rate: 30%)
The same income level as active workersⅢ
(Standard monthly remuneration
830,000 yen or more)
252,600 yen+(medical care costs-842,000 yen)×1%
  • [Frequent qualification of expenditures 140,100 yen]
The same income level as active workersⅡ
(Standard monthly remuneration
530,000 yen - 790,000 yen)
167,400 yen+(medical care costs-558,000 yen)×1%
  • [Frequent qualification of expenditures 93,000 yen]
The same income level as active workersⅠ
(Standard monthly remuneration
280,000 yen - 500,000 yen)
80,100 yen+(medical care costs-267,000 yen)×1%
  • [Frequent qualification of expenditures 44,400 yen]
Normal
(Elderly benefits card copayment rate: 20%)
Standard monthly remuneration
260,000 yen or less
18,000 yen
  • <Annual maximum (August of the previous year to July): 144,000 yen>
57,600 yen
  • [Frequent qualification of expenditures 44,400 yen]
【July 2018 and before】
Category Cost-sharing maximum amount
Per person
(Outpatient)
Per household
(Outpatient and inpatient)
Frequent qualification
of expenditures
Persons earning
income at levels
comparable to
active workers
57,600 yen 80,100 yen +
(medical care costs - 267,000 yen) * 1%
44,400 yen
Normal 14,400 yen
  • [Annual maximum (August of the previous year to July): 144,000 yen]
57,600 yen 44,400 yen
  • *When an eligible person qualifies for high-cost medical care benefits for at least three months of a 12-month period, starting with the fourth month, the cost-sharing maximum amount is reduced to the amount for cases of frequent qualification of expenditures.
  • *During the month of an individual’s 75th birthday, he or she will be an insured person under both health insurance and the Medical Care System for the Advanced Elderly. For this reason, the cost-sharing maximum amount for that month will be halved on an exceptional basis. (This exception does not apply to individuals whose birthday falls on the first of the month.)
  • *See here for information on the cost-sharing maximum amount for persons with low income. Those falling in the category of the same income level as active workers will be treated as such, even if they are exempt from paying municipal tax.
  • *Even persons earning income at levels comparable to active workers will be grouped in the Normal category if their annual income is less than a certain base amount (3.83 million yen for an elderly person living alone, 5.2 million yen for multiple elderly persons living in the same household) and their patient cost-sharing rate shown on their medical care certificates for the elderly is 20% due to a request for application of the base income amount.
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Annual High-Cost Medical Care Benefits for outpatient care (annual total of outpatient costs) for those aged 70 or older

Insured persons and dependents aged 70 or older whose total copayments for outpatient care during the one year period (from August 1 of the previous year to July 31) exceeded 144,000 yen are eligible to be reimbursed for the excess amount as High-Cost Medical Care Benefits.

  • * This benefit is available only to those whose income category is "general" or "low income" as of the basis date (July 31, or the day before the date of death in the event of the death of the insured person).
  • * Calculations of High-Cost Medical Care Benefits exclude copayments paid during a period in which the insured person belonged to the “same income level as active workers” category.

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