• Apepollo11@lemmy.world
      19·
      11 days ago

      It’s both heavily subsidised by the government and heavily regulated to ensure access to quality care.

      For an otherwise healthy adult, you’d pay ~30% of the cost. BUT there are laws that ensure privately-run healthcare facilities can only charge the same amount as publicly-run ones. So even at full cost, these prices are very low compared to the US.

      There are also caps on how much someone will spend in a month, so even long-lasting illnesses/disabilities won’t bankrupt you.

      • tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip
        2·
        10 days ago

        Ambulances in Japan are free, and of course charging exorbitant prices for them is shit, but maybe they should cost the same as a taxi or something (at least if you’re not below the poverty line). I’ve got a friend in the nursing industry in Japan and I’ve been told that old people sometimes use them when they have really minor symptoms, which strains an already struggling system.