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On November 24, 2020, the Prime Minister held the 11th planning meeting on a social security system oriented to all generations at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, the participants held a hearing and discussions with stakeholders of healthcare reform.

Following the discussions, the Prime Minister said,

“Today, we held a hearing with those who are involved in medical services and discussed healthcare reform based on the hearing.

As the declining birthrate and aging society is rapidly advancing, it is the responsibility of our generation to create a social security system in which all generations can feel assured, while minimizing the incremental burdens on the working generations, and pass it on to the next generation. To that end, it is necessary that as many people as possible are being dynamically engaged and contribute to the system depending on their capabilities. The interim report compiled in December last year proposed to increase the upfront payment of medical expenses to 20% for those who have income exceeding a certain amount, even among those who are aged 75 or over.

Today, we received a wide range of comments from the medical service providers and the members from the private sector attending this meeting regarding such issues as income criteria for the 20% upfront payment. Based on these comments received today, we intend to advance more in-depth reviews with the aim of reaching a conclusion in the form of a final report that will be compiled by this planning meeting at the end of this year.  

I ask the relevant ministers, including Minister Nishimura and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Tamura, to advance concrete reviews towards the compilation of the report, while coordinating fully with the ruling parties.”