Should medical care for senior citizens be free?

Depending on what we are, the answers may well vary, and they all make sense, but in my view, providing all seniors with free medical care would not necessarily be a good idea, at least in Japan. Now let me explain the details.      

First, free medical care can lead to a lack of consciousness about “preventive healthcare,” making them more vulnerable to “lifestyle diseases.” This can drain important medical resources and strain on national healthcare systems. For example, Japan once introduced free medical care for seniors, but halted it in 10 years.     

Next, I understand some may argue that seniors living on low income need free medicine, but how to secure their income and how to provide them with medical care should be two separate matters. If we enhance the insurance system and conduct regular health checkups to prevent lifestyle diseases, we won’t need “free” medical care.           

Therefore, even though providing free medical care sounds great, it cannot be a panacea for seniors. So, we must carefully consider these practices to determine the most optimal policy. Thank you for your attention. [181 Words Type-Q]