The health ministry and the ruling coalition parties have agreed to consider dealing with the expected rise in the nation's medical insurance burdens by examining a proposal to create an independent scheme for people over 75 years old.
Working-level officials of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the tripartite coalition also agreed to ask prefectural governments to join the municipal and national governments in sharing medical costs, officials said.
The coalition officials, led by former health minister Yuya Niwa, aim to come up Monday with an outline of reforms to the medical system, including a new medical system for the elderly, they said.