3 Reasons Why Japan’s Medical Expenses Climb for 3rd Straight Year

Expenses paid to medical facilities in Japan in 2005 rose for the 3rd straight year – by 3.2% to 33.13 trillion ($300 billion).

1. Japanese are living longer.

2. There are advances in medical technology

3. no cuts have been made in medical service fees

The ratio of medical expenses to national income was 9.01% in 2005, the first time ever in Japan. Each person spends about 259,300 each year ($2200ish).

Medical expenses for the 69-year olds and older accounted for about 41%.

Insurance premiums covered 49.2% of total medical expenses.

National and local governments paid 35.4%.

Patients paid the rest.

Everybody in Japan has health insurance.

Most Americans do not.

Do you have health insurance?