'Nursing Care Burden Navi' Launches AI-Powered 'Self-pay Cap Checker' to Instantly Calculate Limits and Refunds for Elder Care Expenses
Mycat Inc. has released a tool that helps users navigate the 'application-only' refund system for nursing care insurance, potentially saving families tens of thousands of yen annually.
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- 📰 Published: April 3, 2026 at 19:00
## Addressing the Pitfalls of an 'Application-Only' System
In the Japanese nursing care insurance system, there is a 'High-cost Long-term Care Service Fee' program that refunds expenses exceeding a certain monthly limit. While similar to the medical insurance system, it has a critical difference: benefits are not paid unless the user or their family submits an application, even if a notification is sent by the municipality.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, there are approximately 7 million people certified as requiring long-term care in Japan. Not all of them are aware of or apply for this refund. Especially for families new to caregiving, it is common to continue paying the full amount without knowing such a system exists.
## Self-pay Limits Vary Greatly by Income
The maximum self-pay amount is divided into five levels based on household income:
- **Level 1** (Welfare recipients): 15,000 yen (Individual)
- **Level 2** (Tax-exempt households, income < 800k yen): 15,000 yen (Individual) / 24,600 yen (Household)
- **Level 3** (Tax-exempt households, others): 24,600 yen (Household)
- **Level 4** (Tax-paying households, income < 3.8M yen): 44,400 yen (Household)
- **Level 5** (Income 6.9M+ yen): 140,100 yen (Household)
Many people are unsure which category they fall into due to complexities like tax-exempt status, household separation, and differences between pension and total income.
## How the Tool Works
By answering simple questions, the tool identifies the user's income category and estimates the refund:
1. **Basic Info**: Household structure, tax status, pension income, and other income.
2. **Usage Status**: Care level, types of services used, and current monthly self-pay amount.
3. **Results**: Income category, monthly/annual refund estimates, required documents, and potential benefits of household separation.
## Guidance on Combined Medical and Nursing Care Refunds
For households with high expenses in both medical and nursing care, the tool also introduces the 'High-cost Medical and Nursing Care Combined Refund System.' This is also an application-based system that remains underutilized due to lack of awareness. The tool provides options to input medical expenses to check eligibility for this additional refund.
## Future Evolution
'Nursing Care Burden Navi' plans to add features for determining nursing care co-payment ratios (10%, 20%, or 30%) and checkers for reduction systems in food and accommodation costs at facilities. The goal is to eliminate cases where people miss out on money they are entitled to simply because they don't know the system.
In the Japanese nursing care insurance system, there is a 'High-cost Long-term Care Service Fee' program that refunds expenses exceeding a certain monthly limit. While similar to the medical insurance system, it has a critical difference: benefits are not paid unless the user or their family submits an application, even if a notification is sent by the municipality.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, there are approximately 7 million people certified as requiring long-term care in Japan. Not all of them are aware of or apply for this refund. Especially for families new to caregiving, it is common to continue paying the full amount without knowing such a system exists.
## Self-pay Limits Vary Greatly by Income
The maximum self-pay amount is divided into five levels based on household income:
- **Level 1** (Welfare recipients): 15,000 yen (Individual)
- **Level 2** (Tax-exempt households, income < 800k yen): 15,000 yen (Individual) / 24,600 yen (Household)
- **Level 3** (Tax-exempt households, others): 24,600 yen (Household)
- **Level 4** (Tax-paying households, income < 3.8M yen): 44,400 yen (Household)
- **Level 5** (Income 6.9M+ yen): 140,100 yen (Household)
Many people are unsure which category they fall into due to complexities like tax-exempt status, household separation, and differences between pension and total income.
## How the Tool Works
By answering simple questions, the tool identifies the user's income category and estimates the refund:
1. **Basic Info**: Household structure, tax status, pension income, and other income.
2. **Usage Status**: Care level, types of services used, and current monthly self-pay amount.
3. **Results**: Income category, monthly/annual refund estimates, required documents, and potential benefits of household separation.
## Guidance on Combined Medical and Nursing Care Refunds
For households with high expenses in both medical and nursing care, the tool also introduces the 'High-cost Medical and Nursing Care Combined Refund System.' This is also an application-based system that remains underutilized due to lack of awareness. The tool provides options to input medical expenses to check eligibility for this additional refund.
## Future Evolution
'Nursing Care Burden Navi' plans to add features for determining nursing care co-payment ratios (10%, 20%, or 30%) and checkers for reduction systems in food and accommodation costs at facilities. The goal is to eliminate cases where people miss out on money they are entitled to simply because they don't know the system.
FAQ
What is the 'High-cost Long-term Care Service Fee'?
It is a system where expenses exceeding a monthly limit are refunded. The limit varies depending on household income.
What can I learn from this tool?
You can immediately identify your income category, your payment limit, and the estimated refund amount based on your current spending.
Are there benefits to household separation?
Separating households even while living together can lower your income category and payment limit. The tool allows for comparison.