Introduction of Long-Term Care Insurance in Japan

Abstract

Japan has started the long-term care insurance system from April 2000. The idea of using social insurance system in the field of long-term care has been quite controversial. There are many who still believe that long-term care is mainly a family matter and the state intervention should be minimized. At the same time there are quite a few who believe that the state or local government, and not the insurer, should provide services to people in need of care using tax revenue. The actual long-term care insurance is the reflection of these different opinions among people as well as of interest groups.The author examines the background factors that influenced the formation of the long-term care insurance, deals with the important characteristics of the insurance system with reasons why these characteristics were formed and finally discusses the issues to be overcome.