An insurer may take any of the following measures with respect to an insured person who is in a disaster or other special circumstances specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and regarding whom it is found difficult to make co-payment to a medical institution providing services covered by health insurance or pharmacy providing services covered by health insurance pursuant to the provisions of Article 74, paragraph (1):
to reduce the amount of co-payment;
一部負担金を減額すること。
to exempt the insured person from making co-payment; or
一部負担金の支払を免除すること。
to decide to collect co-payment directly from the insured person in lieu of co-payment to the medical institution medical institution providing services covered by health insurance or pharmacy providing services covered by health insurance or to postpone the collection.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 74, paragraph (1), if the measure referred to in item (i) of the preceding paragraph has been taken with respect to an insured person, it is sufficient for the person to pay the amount of co-payment so reduced to the relevant medical institution or pharmacy providing services covered by health insurance, and if the measure referred to in item (ii) or (iii) has been taken with respect to an insured person, the person is not required to make co-payment to the relevant medical institution providing services covered by health insurance or pharmacy providing services covered by health insurance.
The provisions of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to co-payment in the case referred to in the preceding paragraph.