Man, mother in Yamagata dead after trouble over medical insurance

Tuesday 22nd April, 02:50 PM JST

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7 Comments

romulus3 at 02:56 PM JST - 22nd April

Did he do it after attending the meeting? Was the news that bad?
pathat at 03:00 PM JST - 22nd April

I think the main reason he killed his mother was because of the fear of a long-term hospital stay and the associated financial and emotional burdens. According to this article, he was unemployed, but do not tell me he committed the murder and his own suicide over an extra 2000 yen deducted automatically from his mother`s pension each month.

Or maybe he did. Perhaps the pension deduction was the last straw for him and the final nail in the coffin for both of them. Too bad....
Tatanka at 04:20 PM JST - 22nd April

Let's get this straight, the old people are complaining about the measly 2,000 yen deduction because up until now they just ignored paying it? These old farts should drop to their knees and be thankful such a comprehensive, reasonably priced health insurance system is available. I had an MRI a few weeks ago and only had to pay 7,000 yen; in the U.S. it would have cost me at least $2,500 if I didn't have insurance and even with a deductable it would have cost me more than $70...
thedeath at 05:20 PM JST - 22nd April

Interesting see j-gov burn money for many useless things like whaling, free oil program for foreigner battle ship, build an expensive road which no one use etc.. then they come back to squeeze every yen possible out of the poor elderly japanese! feeling sorry for the 2 poor taken their own life on the news.
some14some at 05:26 PM JST - 22nd April

Imposing insurance premium on elderly people aged 75 and above is unkind, Whereas, even in 3rd world countries elderly people are exempted from various tax/insurance burden.
fireant at 09:15 PM JST - 22nd April

Tatanka,

Very compassionate of you. I take it you are far from being 75. Since the pension isn't much to write home about, every yen counts and even 2,000 yen might mean the difference between enjoying life a bit and being extra miserly. Plus, after working for 40 years or more they still get taxed? For something they thought they had already paid for? Most compassionate of you and the Japanese government.

Also, just because the US health system is screwed up doesn't mean the Japanese system is heaven. Although I agree it is nice to not have to worry about health costs.
WhatJapanThinks at 10:22 PM JST - 22nd April

This report is misleading. As well as the automatic 2,000 yen deduction, the contribution for over 75's for treatment changed from 10% to 30%.

Nagahashi voiced fears about his mother, who required nursing care, being hospitalized.

That's a terrible translation. He wanted to put her in a home as he couldn't work while looking after her, but everywhere was too expensive.