(4) The amount of insurance fee of the self-employed varies according to the amount of income and assets. The national government pays to the local government the same amount of contribution as that of the insuree.
Estimated Average Amount of Insurance Fee
According to the estimation by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the average amount of the insurance fee for Type I Insuree will be approximately 2,500 yen a month (approximately US$19.2).
PROCEDURES and CONTENTS of SERVICES
(1) When the insuree wants to use the services of the Public Long-term Care Insurance, he/she should apply to the insurer (local government) for the assessment of his/her needs for care and/or domiciliary services. A designated home care service agency (public, not-for-profit, or for-profit) and an institutional care service agency can act as proxy of the insuree.
(2) Once the local government's Assessment Committee approves that the applicant is in need of the services of Long-term Care Insurance, the cost of services used after the date of application is to be covered by the Insurance.
(3) Assessments are to be done regularly (every three〜six months - not decided yet) after the beginning of the service. Whenever the insuree thinks that his/her physical/mental conditions are worsened (or improved), he/she can ask the local government to reassess his/her needs.
(4) As soon as the application is approved, a care plan should be made either by the insuree oneself or by a licensed care-manager with the informed consent of the insuree. The care plan is to be made in accordance with the approved Degree of Care Needs described in Item 5 below.
(5) The insurer (local government) is to pay for a care plan made by a care-manager. The care plan made by the insuree oneself or a licensed care-manager is to be presented to the insurer (local government). The insurer will pay the cost of services to the designated home care service agency according to these care plans presented prior to the beginning of services.
(6) The amount of money to be used for the insuree who only needs domiciliary service will approximately be 60,000 yen a month (approximately US$460).
(7) For the insuree who needs care service in addition to domiciliary service, there are five degrees of care needs. The amount of money to be used for the insuree whose degree of care needs is assessed as the lowest (the 1st degree) will be approximately 140,000 yen a month (approximately US$1,077). It will be approximately 300,000 yen a month (US$2,308) for the highest degree (the 5th degree) of care needs.
