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Note:
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The applicable age group for the healthcare system for the elderly was raised by five years in October 2002, from the over-70s to the over-75s; thus it is necessary to bear in mind that the above figures for elderly healthcare benefits in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 differ in terms of their applicable age range. According to the “2005 National Medical Care Expenditure (Estimates) (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare),” the rate of increase in the national medical expenses for the over-75s rose by 0.5% in 2002, by 3.8% in 2003, by 5.7% in 2004, and by 5.7% in 2005 (compared with each previous year).
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