Japan Employees’ health insurance: Employees of firms in Government industry and commerce with five or more employees are National health insurance: 50% of the cost of medical care, covered by the government-managed program, unless the the cost of administration, and some local subsidies. insured is a member of an occupational health insurance Employees’ health insurance: 13.0% of benefit costs, 16.4% society. of the cost of health care for the aged, and the cost of Voluntary coverage for employees in private-sector workplaces administration for the government-managed program as well as with less than five workers and for agricultural, forestry, or part of the cost of administration for health insurance societies. fishery workers. Special systems for persons aged 70 or older (medical system Qualifying Conditions for the elderly), seamen, private-school employees, and civil servants. National health insurance (medical benefits): Residence in a municipality, township, or village. Source of Funds Employees’ health insurance (sickness, maternity, and Insured person medical benefits): In covered employment. If an insured person leaves employment but was in covered employment National health insurance: National health tax or premium is during the previous 12 months, sickness and maternity fixed by the individual carrier but must not exceed 530,000 yen benefits are continued for the normal duration of entitlement; a year per household. (The average annual contribution in medical care for the same insured person can be provided for 2000 was 82,954 yen per insured person, or 166,990 yen per up to 5 years from the first date of treatment. household.) Eligible dependents for medical benefits are spouses, parents, Premiums may be reduced by between 30% and 70% for grandparents, younger sisters and brothers, children, and qualifying low-income residents or for households in a grandchildren whether or not residing with the insured person; program run by a municipality. and fathers and mothers-in-law, uncles, aunts, nephews, Employees’ health insurance: 4.1% of the basic monthly nieces, and older brothers and sisters, provided they are earnings including salary bonuses before tax, according to residing with the insured person. 39 wage classes (government-managed program). The annual Birth grant: Paid to an insured person or the wife of an average contribution in 1999 was 3.72% of basic monthly insured person whose pregnancy lasts 4 months or more. earnings including salary bonuses before tax, according to 39 Funeral grant: Paid to the person who organizes the funeral wage classes (health insurance society). of the deceased insured. The minimum monthly basic wage for contribution and benefit purposes is 92,000 yen. Sickness and Maternity Benefits The maximum monthly basic wage for contribution and benefit National health insurance: No cash benefits are provided by purposes is 980,000 yen. law, but all insurance carriers provide lump-sum death and birth The minimum and maximum earnings levels are adjusted on an grants. ad hoc basis in line with any increase in the national average Employees’ health insurance (sickness benefit): 60% of wage. the average daily basic wage, according to wage class. The Self-employed person: Covered by special national health benefit is payable after a 3-day waiting period for up to insurance societies. 18 months or until the determination of disability. Health Employer insurance societies may provide more generous benefits. National health insurance: None. Maternity benefit: 60% of the average daily basic wage according to wage class is paid for 42 days before (98 days for Employees’ health insurance: 4.1% of the basic monthly expected multiple births) and 56 days after the expected date of payroll including bonuses before tax, according to 39 wage childbirth. The payment of benefit is discontinued or reduced classes (government-managed program). The annual average partially if the mother is receiving a wage or cash sickness contribution in 1999 was 4.786% of basic monthly payroll benefit. including bonuses before tax, according to 39 wage classes Birth grant: A lump sum of 300,000 yen. (health insurance society). Funeral grant: A lump sum of 100,000 yen is paid to a The minimum monthly basic wage for contribution and benefit deceased person’s dependent who organizes the funeral. If purposes is 92,000 yen. there is no dependent, the actual funeral expenses up to the The maximum monthly basic wage for contribution and benefit limit of the deceased’s basic wage for contribution purposes is purposes is 980,000 yen. paid to the person who organizes the funeral. The minimum and maximum earnings levels are adjusted on an ad hoc basis in line with any increase in the national average wage.