Nippon jumps into healthcare policies

TOKYO, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Nippon Life Insurance Co., Japan's top life insurer, will begin offering healthcare policies next month.

The move makes NLI the last of the nation's big four insurance companies to take such a step, Asahi Shimbun reported Tuesday.

Demand for high-premium life insurance is falling, partly because the number of single-person households is on the rise, while demand for medical insurance is growing, particularly among the elderly.

They are increasingly concerned they may be required to shoulder more of their medical expenses as the government seeks to curb related spending.