Japan is planning to introduce a requirement for all foreign tourists to have health insurance, in response to growing concerns over unpaid medical bills left behind by international visitors.
According to Kyodo News, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is proposing the measure to curb the financial burden on Japanese taxpayers. The ministry also intends to work with the Immigration Services Agency to share information on tourists with outstanding medical debts, enabling stricter screening at entry points.
Foreign visitors with unpaid medical bills may face consequences such as being stopped from leaving the country or detained upon re-entry.
A nationwide survey conducted by the health ministry in September 2024 found that 11,372 foreign tourists had received medical treatment in Japan. Of these, 0.8% did not settle their bills, leaving a total unpaid amount of approximately 61.35 million yen (US$425,000), the South China Morning Post reported.
Similar insurance requirements for incoming travellers are already in place in countries such as Cuba, Nepal, Qatar and Jordan.
Further details, including the implementation timeline and enforcement measures, are expected to be announced by the Japanese government in due course.