Elderly Welfare Division

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12 Long-term Care Insurance

12 - 1 Long-term Care Insurance System

The nursing care insurance system is a system whereby society as a whole supports elderly people and people requiring nursing care due to old age. Under this scheme, people over the age of 40 are enrolled in the system and pool their insurance costs; they are then able to make use of care services by bearing 10%, 20%, or 30% of the costs when they are found to need care.

Eligibility and Insurance Contribution Amount

Persons over 65, and all persons between 40 and 64 who are enrolled in medical insurance (national health insurance, employees’ health insurance), pay the insurance contributions. Foreign residents to whom the Basic Registration system applies and are above 40 years old also enter the long-term care insurance system. 

Methods of Payment

• Primary Insured Persons・・・  The city hall will send payment notification slips to the insured person by post 
• Secondary Insured Persons・・・For those enrolled in the national health insurance, contributions will be paid along with the premiums for the national health insurance. For those enrolled in employee’s health insurance, contributions will be directly taken from the salary or bonus along with the employees’ health insurance fees.

12 - 2 Receiving Long-term Care Services

Long-term Care Services may only be received when long-term care has become necessary after the age of 65, or due to specified diseases caused by aging (16 types) which occur between ages 40 and 64 years old.