Japan's health care system faces a perfect storm

Abstract

Although Japan has implemented a universal health care system that is universal in terms of free access to health care services, it is managed by fragmented and financially insecure insurance societies that have cumulative deficits even with government subsidies. In terms of insurance premiums, the system is regressive to low-income and unstable workers, and the social benefit scheme only captures 1.6% of this population. The Japanese government is continuously instituting new health care policies to reduce growing health care expenditures. Recent health care reforms may improve economic efficiency, but the changes remain limited to controlling access to health services and pricing measures.

Keywords: Japan; free access; insurance premium; reimbursement scheme; universal health care.