The health insurance system in Japan

The steadily increasing cost of medical care associated with advancing medical technology as well as the rapid progression of generalized aging of the society has become a major socioeconomical issue confronting most developed countries. Although Japan is no exception in this regard, and a drastic modification of the health care system is now being discussed, it is also clear that its postwar health insurance system has played a major role for the Japanese achieving the longest life expectancy in the world (over 82 years for female and 76 years for male) in the past decade. It is thus my understanding that the invitation for this brief review reflects the need for reference information regarding the current debate in the North American continent.