Politics · Japan · 7 hrs ago
Japan considers counting investment income in long-term care costs
Japan’s health ministry has proposed counting investment income in care-cost calculations for older people.
The proposal covers income such as stock dividends and would affect how much users pay for long-term care services.
Most users currently pay 10% of the cost, while people with higher incomes pay 20% or 30%.
At present, investment income may not be counted if a person does not report it on a tax return, which the ministry says can create a sense of unfairness.
A government specialist panel has begun discussing changes to the long-term care insurance system as the number of people using care services grows.
The panel will consider the proposal, and the ministry will decide after those discussions.
A similar change for calculating some older people’s health insurance costs is set to begin in August 2029.
Japan’s health ministry has proposed including investment income when calculating some long-term care costs for older people.
The proposal was presented to a ministry expert panel, which will discuss the issue before a decision is made.
Currently, dividends from shares may not be counted if a person does not file a tax return, affecting how their care-service copayment is calculated.
The ministry says the change could address a perceived unfairness in how income is assessed.
A separate system reflecting financial income in some older people’s medical costs is scheduled to begin in August 2029.
- Who
- Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare proposed the change to an expert panel.
- What
- The proposal would include financial income, such as share dividends, when calculating some long-term care costs.
- When
- The proposal was presented on October 26, 2026.
- Where
- Japan.
- Why
- The ministry says it aims to address perceived unfairness when financial income is not counted if a person does not file a tax return.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The health ministry presented a proposal to include financial income in calculations of long-term care copayments.
The ministry will make a decision on the proposal.
A separate system is scheduled to begin reflecting financial income in calculations related to older people’s medical costs.
- Proposal
- Include financial income in calculations of some long-term care costs
- Income examples
- Share dividends
- Current copayment rates
- 1% in principle; 2% or 3% depending on income
- Medical-cost system
- Financial income to be reflected from August 2029