The purpose of this Act is to formulate a plan for promoting the optimization of medical expenses and to take measures for the implementation of health checkups, etc. by insurers in order to ensure appropriate medical care for the citizens in their old age, and with regard to medical care for the elderly, to establish a system necessary for adjusting the sharing of expenses between insurers pertaining to the young-old and for providing appropriate medical care benefits, etc. for the old-old, based on the principle of joint and several action by citizens, thereby improving the health of the citizens and promoting the welfare of the elderly.
この法律は、国民の高齢期における適切な医療の確保を図るため、医療費の適正化を推進するための計画の作成及び保険者による健康診査等の実施に関する措置を講ずるとともに、高齢者の医療について、国民の共同連帯の理念等に基づき、前期高齢者に係る保険者間の費用負担の調整、後期高齢者に対する適切な医療の給付等を行うために必要な制度を設け、もつて国民保健の向上及び高齢者の福祉の増進を図ることを目的とする。