“My parents need long-term care, but we can’t afford it.” “If we put them in a facility, it’ll cost hundreds of thousands of yen every month, won’t it?”
The “financial barrier” is the first—and most pressing—concern for families facing the need for long-term care. There is no end to the cases where, out of anxiety over the costs, families bear the burden of caregiving entirely on their own without being able to confide in anyone, eventually reaching their physical and emotional limits.
However, please rest assured. Under Japan’s long-term care insurance system,A system that acts as a "safety net" to alleviate the financial burden on families...are all well-prepared.
In this article, we’ll introduce the “three public assistance programs” that you absolutely must know about before giving up on long-term care services or residential facilities due to financial concerns.
"Three Programs" to Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs for Long-Term Care
1. The absolute basics! With “Long-Term Care Insurance,” out-of-pocket costs are reduced to 10–30 percent
When you use long-term care services (such as in-home care, day care, and short-term stays), you do not have to pay the full cost out of pocket.
Although it varies depending on age and income, generally speaking,Payment of “10 percent (or 20 to 30 percent, depending on income)” of the actual costs incurredYou can use the service this way. For example, even for a service that costs 10,000 yen per visit, if you’re responsible for 10% of the cost, you’ll only need to pay 1,000 yen at the front desk.
2. There’s no upper limit! “High-Cost Long-Term Care Service Fees”
This system is designed to address concerns such as, “Even if the copay is only 10 percent, won’t it end up costing a lot if I use the service every day?”
Just like medical expenses, long-term care insurance also has a “monthly out-of-pocket maximum (cap).” The cap is determined based on income (for example, 44,400 yen per month for households with average income*), and any amount exceeding this limit will be reimbursed later upon application. In other words, you won’t run out of money indefinitely the more you use the service.
*The upper limit for high-cost long-term care service fees is determined by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare based on income brackets (and varies depending on household income). You can also confirm this information at the relevant office in your municipality.
3. “Certification of Maximum Cost Burden,” Which Reduces Meal and Room Costs at Facilities
When you move into a facility such as a special nursing home for the elderly or use short-stay services, you will be charged “meal fees” and “room and board fees” in addition to the cost of long-term care services.
However, if your income or savings fall below a certain threshold, you can apply at your local municipal office to receive a “Certificate of Maximum Payment Limit,” which will significantly reduce these costs for meals and room and board. This is a very important program that makes it easier to use these facilities even if you rely solely on your parents’ pension income.
Leave managing your budget to a professional “care manager.”
Even if knowing about these programs gives you some peace of mind, it’s still very difficult to figure out exactly what services your parents can use with their pension and savings.
That’s why we’d like you to turn to usCare Managers at the Daiseikai GroupIt is.
Care managers not only develop care plans but also act as “care financial planners.” Please be honest and tell us, “My monthly budget for care is about ◯ ten thousand yen.” We will assist you in applying for the necessary public assistance programs and propose an effective combination of services (a care plan) that aligns closely with your family’s wishes.
What Only the Daiseikai Group Can Do
In addition, our group operates a medical facility called “Uchida Hospital.”Healthcare and social welfare collaborate within the same groupAs a result, it makes it easier to connect patients with care—from routine health management to consultations when their condition changes—and helps reduce the burden on family members, such as by providing accompaniment to medical appointments.
Please don't try to handle this all by yourself.
"I'm embarrassed to talk about money." "With a budget like this, I doubt anyone will be able to help me."
That is absolutely not the case. Asking about your family’s financial situation is an important first step in providing you with support. Consulting with a care manager and creating a care plan are “free of charge (fully covered by long-term care insurance),” so there are no out-of-pocket costs for you (*).
*Note: Under the Long-Term Care Insurance system, the full cost of in-home care support (including the creation of care plans) is covered (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare).
"I want to get by on my parents' pension alone." "I want to know how to provide long-term care without dipping into my savings." If you have real-life concerns like these, please feel free to share them with us. Let's work together to find the best solution.
＼ Please feel free to contact us if you have any problems ／.
Medical Corporation Daiseikai, Uchida Hospital, Community Healthcare Coordination Office
(TEL) 0278-24-5329
Uchida Home Care Support Office
(TEL) 0278-23-7535
