To the general public and patients

Social welfare system

Specified disease medical treatment benefits (long-term)

What is the specified disease medical treatment benefits (long-term)?

Specified diseases refer to "long-term specific diseases" and are covered under the Health Insurance Act, wherein subsidies are granted when long-term medical care becomes necessary.
Beneficiaries are patients with hemophilia, patients with kidney failure in need of dialysis, and HIV patients infected by blood products.

What happens to my medical costs if I use the specified disease medical treatment benefits?

By submitting your certificate for the specified disease treatment to the receptionist at your medical institution, your monthly cost-bearing limit for medical expenses will not exceed 10,000 yen. However, for patients with kidney failure who are in need of dialysis and apply to the following, the cost-bearing limit for one month will be 20,000 yen (as of October 2006).

  • Persons under 70 with a standard monthly income of at least 530,000 yen
  • Persons under 70 who are insured as dependents of persons whose standard monthly income is at least 530,000 yen.

How do I apply for the specified disease medical treatment benefits? Where can I find an application form?

Application forms are available at your place of health insurance registration or the section within your company that handles insurance. Please have your doctor fill in the “medical comments” within the application to certify that you have the specified disease. Submit the form to the health office with your health insurance card attached. The benefit will be effective as of the first of the month that you submit your application.

Place of application
  • National health insurance
    Your local government office
  • Government Managed Insurance
    Social insurance office
  • Health insurance society
    Union office printed on your insurance certificate or business administration within your company.
  • Mutual aid association
    Offices of each organization
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