🧓 Japan Long-Term Care Insurance Calculator
Estimate your Japan Long-Term Care Insurance (介護保険) premium for ages 40+ — an income-based 所得割 plus a flat 均等割 — using representative municipal rates.
What is this tool?
Long-Term Care Insurance (介護保険, Kaigo Hoken) funds Japan's nursing-care system for the elderly. Everyone aged 40–64 (as the 第2号 insured) pays a care premium bundled into their medical insurance, while everyone aged 65 and over (第1号 insured) pays a separate care premium set by their municipality. Like National Health Insurance, the 第1号 premium is not national but local: it combines a 所得割 (income-based portion) and a 均等割 (flat per-person portion), with the city deciding the rates within a national framework. Nationally the average 第1号 premium is around ¥6,500 per month, but it ranges widely — from under ¥5,000 to over ¥9,000 per month — because each of Japan's municipalities sets its own scale and divides residents into income tiers (段階). Lower-income seniors (第1段階, 第2段階) pay sharply reduced 均等割 amounts. This calculator estimates the premium using a representative average plus an income-based component so you can plan. For the medical-side insurance see the NHI premium tool and health insurance rate tool.
How it works
The 第1号 premium is the sum of a 均等割 (a flat per-person amount your municipality sets, representative ¥78,000/year) and a 所得割 (an income-based portion, representative ~1.2% of income above the ¥430,000 base). The calculator applies these representative rates and lets you pick an income tier.
| Portion | Basis | Representative rate |
|---|
Care levels and monthly service limit (national standard, FY2024 revision) These are the monthly home/service caps; users pay 10–30% of the approved amount. Municipalities may apply slight local adjustments.
| Care level (要介護度) | Monthly service limit (¥) |
|---|---|
| Support 1 (要支援1) | ¥50,320 |
| Support 2 (要支援2) | ¥105,310 |
| Care 1 (要介護1) | ¥167,650 |
| Care 2 (要介護2) | ¥197,050 |
| Care 3 (要介護3) | ¥270,480 |
| Care 4 (要介護4) | ¥309,380 |
| Care 5 (要介護5) | ¥362,170 |
| --- | --- | --- |
|---|
| 均等割 | per person | ~¥78,000 / year |
|---|
| 所得割 | income − ¥430,000 | ~1.2% |
|---|
How to use
- Select your income tier (standard, or a low-income tier).
- Enter your annual income in 万円 (used for the 所得割).
- Click Calculate to see the estimated annual and monthly care premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays Long-Term Care Insurance?
Everyone aged 40 and over. Those 65+ (第1号) pay a separate municipal care premium; those 40–64 (第2号) pay care insurance bundled into their medical insurance premium.
Why does the premium vary so much by city?
Each municipality sets its own 所得割 and 均等割 rates and income tiers within the national framework, so the same person can pay very different amounts depending on where they live — the national average is about ¥6,500/month but ranges widely.
What are the income tiers (段階)?
Municipalities divide 第1号 insured into tiers (段階) by income. The lowest tiers (第1段階, 第2段階) receive large 均等割 reductions, so low-income seniors pay a fraction of the standard premium.
How is this different from NHI?
NHI covers medical care; care insurance covers nursing and long-term care needs. Seniors 65+ typically pay both, often billed together by the municipality. See the NHI tool.
Is the premium tax-deductible?
No, care insurance premiums are a statutory social-insurance cost and not an income-tax deduction.
This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial professional for advice specific to your situation.
Tips & Advice
Care premiums are billed twice a year (usually in 5–6 installments) by your municipality, separate from — but often mailed with — your NHI bill if you are 65+. The single biggest factor in your premium is your income tier (段階): a senior with no income beyond the basic deduction can qualify for 第1段階, paying roughly a quarter of the standard 均等割. If your income dropped, file for a tier reclassification rather than paying the default rate. People aged 40–64 pay care insurance inside their medical premium and generally do not see a separate care bill. As with NHI, always confirm the exact amount against the statement your city sends each spring. Pair this estimate with the NHI tool since both are local and billed together for seniors.
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Sources & References
Last reviewed: August 2026.
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Long-Term Care Insurance (Kaigo Hoken).
Limitations
Disclaimer: This tool uses a representative average 均等割 (~¥78,000/year) and 所得割 (~1.2%) and does not model municipal 段階 discounts. Actual premiums are set locally and vary substantially. It is not official advice — confirm the exact amount on your municipality's statement.