Reply #44: Healthcare in Japan [View All]

Participation in the national health insurance program is mandatory and premiums are based on income. Young families and retired people get nice breaks, and people 70 and over get completely free care.

My current family premiums run about $500 every two months. The insurance pays for 70% of all medical costs, including basic dental and prescriptions. Prescription medications are MUCH cheaper in Japan, while over-the-counter remedies are usually more expensive (and not covered by the health insurance).

My friend recently spent five days in a Japanese hospital. His total bill came to about $520, including emergency room treatment the first night. A week's worth of prescriptions is costing him about $20.

By the way, Japan has the highest life expectancy of any major country.