{
  "id": 19725201,
  "title": "Can an ageing Malaysia take inspiration from super-aged Japan’s LTC insurance?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/can-an-ageing-malaysia-take-inspiration-from-super-aged-japans-ltc",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/11/13/can-an-ageing-malaysia-take-inspiration-from-super-aged-japans-ltc-insurance/242209"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2048, Malaysia is expected to become an aged nation, with one in every seven people aged 65 and above. To prepare for this demographic shift, Malaysia could consider implementing long-term care insurance, learning from Japan's experience. Japan introduced its national long-term care insurance in 2000, becoming the first Asian country to do so. The insurance is mandatory, with both residents and the government contributing to its funding.\n\nWhen residents turn 40, they are automatically enrolled in the insurance and begin paying premiums. The cost is split between the government and residents, with the latter paying a portion of the insurance premiums based on their income and age. Those aged 40 to 64 pay 27% of the premium, while those aged 65 and above pay 23%.\n\nThe insurance covers long-term care needs, not limited to 16 age-related diseases, for those aged 65 and above. Coverage is available as long as the individual requires support or long-term care services. To qualify, individuals must be certified by municipal government officers and their primary doctor, who provide a written opinion of their condition. Once certified, individuals are placed in one of seven care levels, each with different maximum monthly care cost limits and support levels.\n\nResidents are responsible for co-payments, which depend on their income level and range from 10 to 30% of the care costs. Japan's long-term care system goes beyond just insurance, requiring municipal governments to establish a \"Community-based Integrated Care System.\" This system provides services accessible within a 30-minute walk from older individuals' residences, such as medical care, nursing care, daily living support, activities to prevent frailty, and long-term care.\n\nThe system aims to maintain older people's dignity, independence, and ability to continue living in their communities. Japan has also implemented measures to maintain the system's sustainability, including higher co-payment levels for higher-income individuals and efforts to increase the number of care workers through subsidies, training, and certification programs, as well as accepting migrant workers.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — It is very likely that a significant proportion of Malaysians will need long-term care as M...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}