It is the first time for the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry to conduct a study into the actual state of insurance premiums paid by foreigners living in Japan and details of the benefits they receive, with the findings to be released by the summer, Kyodo news reported.
In Japan, all residents must enroll in a public health insurance programme and pay premiums.
The system, among other benefits, enables the refunding of medical expenses that exceed an individual’s limit in a single month. The ceiling varies depending on age and income.
From March 2023 to February 2024, 980.3 billion yen (US$7 billion) was reimbursed to those who exceeded their monthly cap of medical costs, of which 11.8 billion yen went to foreigners, or 1.21 percent of the total.
However, politicians have expressed concerns that the system could be misused as foreigners may try to come to Japan to receive expensive medical treatment at lower out-of-pocket money.
Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the minor opposition Democratic Party for the People, has wrote on social media that “people staying for just 90 days can get high-cost medical benefits worth tens of millions of yen. It should be reviewed to make its application stricter.”
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