Insured Medical Care and Private Medical Care

Private medical care and the distinction between fee-for-service and bundled payment represent different dimensions of healthcare payment.

Under insured medical care, medical fees are calculated according to the rules of Japan’s public health insurance system, and patients generally pay a portion of the cost. Medical fees may be calculated using methods such as fee-for-service or bundled payment.

In contrast, private medical care is provided without using public health insurance. Medical institutions set their own fees, and patients generally pay the full amount themselves.

Therefore, the distinction between insured medical care and private medical care should be considered separately from the distinction between fee-for-service and bundled payment.