US EditionJapan Plans Mandatory Tourist Health Insurance to Curb Unpaid Medical Bills
- Japan plans to enforce mandatory health insurance for foreign tourists starting in 2025 to address unpaid medical bills at local hospitals.
- This decision follows surveys showing about 0.8% of foreign visitors left unpaid bills totaling roughly 61 million yen in September 2024.
- The rise in inbound tourism, partly driven by a weaker yen, has increased strain on medical facilities as uninsured tourists often use top-tier hospitals without paying.
- Nearly 30% of foreign visitors lacked insurance during their stay, and the government may use immigration screenings to enforce coverage and debt payment.
- The policy aims to reduce financial burdens on local health services and promote responsible tourism while tightening immigration controls for nonpaying visitors.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Japan has a view of breaking up the rules of entry into the country to combat the problem of foreign tourists who leave without paying their medical bills, reports the press from the island, mentioned by The Independent. New policy would...
The Independent
MSNJapan is considering a major change to rules for foreign visitors
Tourists could be made to get private medical insurance and immigration officials would be able to access visitors’ records to see if they have any history of unpaid bills
Japan eyes law revision on foreign residents
A committee in Japan's Upper House of Parliament began discussions aimed at revising the immigration law on Tuesday. Key points include a new program for foreign trainees to fill labor shortages as Japan ages, a move that may increase the number of permanent foreign residents, and allowing the government to revoke permanent residency under certain conditions.
Foreigners with permanent residency could face stricter rules | The Asahi Shimbun Asia & Japan Watch
The government is considering amending the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law to revoke the permanent residency status of foreign nationals who fail to pay taxes and social security premiums.
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