International Comparison of Long-Term Care Insurance Systems

As life expectancy continues to rise and birthrates decline, nations around the world face unprecedented challenges in caring for aging populations. This book offers a comprehensive analysis of long-term care insurance systems—both public and private—and the evolving landscape of eldercare services across diverse countries.

Driven by three critical factors—the growing number of elderly individuals requiring intensive care, the need to eliminate "social hospitalization," and the escalating costs of medical care for seniors—governments have been compelled to rethink and restructure their approaches to long-term care. First, the rapid increase in average life expectancy has led to an increase in the number of bedridden elderly and those suffering from dementia, and the need for and importance of long-term care has grown. Second, it was necessary to eliminate "social hospitalization”. Social hospitalization refers to a condition in which a patient is not in need of medical care but remains hospitalized in a medical institution for compelling reasons such as family circumstances. Third, medical costs for the elderly were increasing rapidly. It was necessary to control the increase in medical costs by separating medical care from long-term care.

Through comparative research and policy analysis, this book clarifies the distinct roles of public and private insurance models and offers actionable recommendations for sustainable and equitable care in aging societies. It is an essential resource for policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and anyone invested in the future of social welfare and eldercare.