26-Mar-18, Nikkei Asian Review
As Japan enjoys booming inbound tourism, hospitals are seeing more cases of nonpayment by foreign travelers who fall ill but lack insurance coverage, prompting an alarmed government to consider a response.
%20Nikkei%20Asian%20Review.jpg "Tourists unpaid medical bills take toll on Japanese hospitals (c) Nikkei Asian Review")
Image: Nikkei Asian Review
According to a 2016 survey by the health ministry, around 80% of 1,710 responding institutions said they provided outpatient treatment to foreigners, while about 60% offered in-hospital care. Among those, 35% said they had non-payment issues over the previous year.
The tallies include foreign nationals living in Japan, but a government official said many non-payment cases involve temporary visitors unfamiliar with the language and customs. About 30% of 19 hospitals in Okinawa have experienced non-payment problems, a survey found.