You pay a share of covered services, set by the parent's income, while insurance covers the rest. Higher income means a larger share, so two families with the same plan can pay very differently. From abroad, do not budget off a single percentage you read somewhere; confirm the parent's actual rate. And remember a monthly ceiling exists, with refunds above it, so the bill is capped even in heavy months.
Read more: What elderly care costs
Related terms
- 高額介護サービス費（kougaku kaigo service hi）— high-cost care refund
- 単位（tan'i）— units
- 介護保険（kaigo hoken）— long-term care insurance
Getting help with this
See the full Japanese elder care glossary, or start with our long-term care insurance guide. If you would rather have someone handle the Japanese side, our care navigation service helps foreign families step by step, and you can contact us with your situation. Definitions are general orientation; rules vary by municipality (see our editorial policy).