Children's Medical Subsidy in Japan: Free or Cheap Healthcare for Kids

Quick answer (30 seconds): On top of National Health Insurance, Japan has a children's medical subsidy (kodomo no iryōhi josei) run by your city/ward that often makes a child's doctor and dental visits free or just a few hundred yen. It covers (all or part of) the 30% co-pay that insurance leaves. Registered residents qualify regardless of nationality in most municipalities — but the age limit and any income test vary a lot by city (some cover kids to the end of junior high, many to 18). You apply at the city office and receive a recipient certificate (jukyūsha-shō) to show with the insurance card at the clinic.

Disclaimer: General information, not legal advice. This is a local benefit — the age limit, income conditions, and exactly how much is covered differ by municipality and change. Confirm the rules where you live with your city/ward office.

What it is (and how it differs from other support)

• Children's medical subsidy (kodomo no iryōhi josei): covers the child's out-of-pocket medical cost (the 30% insurance leaves), so visits are often free or a small flat fee. This is what this guide is about.
• Not the same as child allowance (jidō teate): that's a monthly cash payment per child (a different application).
• Not the same as National Health Insurance: insurance is what makes everyone pay 30%; this subsidy then covers that remaining 30% for kids.

Who qualifies

• A child registered as a resident in the municipality, enrolled in health insurance.
• Most municipalities do not restrict by nationality — foreign-resident children qualify the same way.
• Age limit varies widely: commonly up to the end of junior high school (around 15) or up to 18; a few areas differ. Some cities have an income limit; many now have none.

Because it's set locally, two families in different cities can get very different deals — always check your own city/ward.

How much you pay

It depends on your municipality, but typically the child's medical (and often dental) visits become:

• Free, or
• a small flat fee per visit/month (e.g., a few hundred yen), with the rest subsidized.

So a child's clinic or dentist trip that would cost the 30% co-pay often costs little or nothing.

How to apply (step by step)

1. Register the child as a resident and enroll them in health insurance first (newborns: after the birth registration).
2. Apply for the children's medical subsidy at your city/ward office (the child-welfare / medical-subsidy desk).
3. Receive the recipient certificate (jukyūsha-shō).
4. At the clinic/dentist, show the recipient certificate together with the health insurance card — the subsidy is applied automatically.
5. Renew as required (some certificates renew yearly).

FAQ

1. Is children's healthcare free in Japan? Often effectively yes — the municipal subsidy covers the 30% co-pay, so kids' visits are frequently free or a small flat fee. It depends on your city.

2. Do foreign-resident children qualify? In most municipalities, yes — eligibility is based on residence and insurance, not nationality. Confirm locally.

3. Up to what age? Varies: commonly to the end of junior high (~15) or to 18, depending on the municipality.

4. Is there an income limit? Some cities have one; many have none. Check your municipality.

5. How do I use it? Show the recipient certificate (jukyūsha-shō) with the insurance card at the clinic or dentist; the subsidy applies automatically.

Sources

• Your city/ward office — children's medical expense subsidy (authoritative for your area; rules vary locally)
• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) — child & family health/medical support: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/
• Real estate / living guides — children's medical subsidy overview (varies by city): https://resources.realestate.co.jp/living/

Related guides

• National Health Insurance for foreigners — the base coverage this tops up
• Pregnancy & the Boshi Techo — registering your child and benefits
• Dental care in Japan — often free for kids with the subsidy
• How to find an English-speaking doctor — paediatric care

Last updated: 2026-06-19