● Minato Ward / Medical subsidy
● No income limit

Until age 18, your child's insured medical care is free

Official name
Minato Ward Child Medical Care Subsidy — 港区子ども医療費助成

Children in Minato Ward, from birth until the first March 31 after their 18th birthday, receive free insured medical care: when a child gets medical care or medicine covered by health insurance, the Ward pays the co-payment (自己負担分) for you.

At clinics, hospitals and pharmacies in Tokyo, present the child's health insurance eligibility certificate (or My Number insurance card) and the child's medical certificate ("Maru-Nyu" / "Maru-Ko" / "Maru-Sei" depending on age). You pay ¥0 at the counter.

No income limit. Both the parent and the child must be registered residents of Minato and the child must be in a Japanese public health insurance plan. People receiving public assistance (生活保護), children living in child welfare facilities, and children in foster care are not covered. Hospital meal fees during inpatient stays are also covered, but you pay them at the hospital first and then claim them from the Ward.

YOUR OUT-OF-POCKET COST
0JPY
For the co-payment on insured outpatient and inpatient care and prescriptions. Hospital meal fees are paid at the hospital and refunded by the Ward after you apply.
COVERAGE

What is covered, and what is not

"Free" applies to the co-payment for insured care only. Costs not covered by health insurance remain your responsibility.

Doctor visits, examinations, and prescriptions (insured) FREE
Tests (blood work, X-rays, etc.) on insured care FREE
Hospitalizations and surgeries (insured) FREE
Insured dental care (cavities, etc.) FREE
Hospital meal fees during inpatient stays (食事療養標準負担額) PAY, THEN CLAIM
Care not covered by health insurance NOT COVERED
Private room fees (差額ベッド代) NOT COVERED
Health check-ups and vaccinations not covered by insurance, medicine container fees NOT COVERED
Document fees (medical certificates, etc.) NOT COVERED
Extra charges (選定療養費), e.g. visiting a large hospital without a referral letter, or special night/holiday fees the hospital charges NOT COVERED
Costs paid by another medical subsidy, and costs of injuries at school paid by the Japan Sport Council NOT COVERED HERE
For injuries at school, the medical costs covered by the Japan Sport Council's Disaster Mutual Aid Benefit are not paid by this subsidy. Visiting a university hospital at night or on holidays may incur extra charges (選定療養費).
THE THREE CERTIFICATE TYPES

"Maru-Nyu / Maru-Ko / Maru-Sei" by age

The certificate switches as your child grows — Minato mails the new one in March. Certificates are also renewed every October 1 (mailed in September).

マル乳 (Maru-Nyu) — until elementary-school entry
Issued after you apply (birth or move-in). Used until the child starts elementary school.
マル子 (Maru-Ko) — elementary & junior-high school
Switches on April 1 when the child starts first grade.
マル青 (Maru-Sei) — high-school age
Switches on the April 1 when the child is 15 (start of high-school age). Valid until the first March 31 after the 18th birthday.
HOW TO APPLY

Application process

First-time application (newborn or move-in)
  • Apply within 15 days of the birth or move-in: by post to the Child Benefits Subsection (子ども給付係), at the Health and Welfare Subsection of your Area Branch Office, or online via Mynaportal (needs a My Number Card and a card reader). If you apply within 15 days, eligibility starts from the date of birth or move-in.
  • Required: the application form (乳幼児・子ども・高校生等医療証交付申請書), a document showing the child's health insurance details (for example, a copy of the eligibility certificate or the eligibility notice; a PDF from Mynaportal also works), and the applicant's ID. If you do not have the insurance document yet, send a copy as soon as it arrives.
  • The certificate is mailed after the Ward confirms the child's health insurance.
If you paid at the counter (no certificate, forgot it, or a clinic that does not accept it)
Pay at the counter, then apply to the Ward with the claim form (子ども医療助成費支給申請書), the original receipt (with the patient's name, date, insurance points and amount) and proof of the bank account of the parent named on the certificate. Apply early — claims can expire. If you paid the full cost without showing the insurance card either, first claim from your health insurer (療養費), then claim the remaining 20% or 30% from the Ward.
Visiting a hospital outside Tokyo
The certificate is used at medical institutions in Tokyo. Outside Tokyo, pay at the counter, then claim from the Ward in the same way. Families in a National Health Insurance plan outside Tokyo are covered but are not issued a certificate; they pay and then claim, as a guide within 6 months of the visit.
FAQ

Common questions

My family income is high. Are we still eligible?
Yes. Minato Ward has no income limit for this subsidy. (People receiving public assistance, children in child welfare facilities and children in foster care are not covered.)
Hospital meals during inpatient stays — really covered?
Yes. The hospital meal standard fee (食事療養標準負担額) is covered, but you pay it at the hospital first. Then apply to the Ward with the claim form, the original receipt and the bank account details.
My child needs orthodontics — covered?
Only the co-payment for treatment covered by health insurance. Treatment that health insurance does not cover is not covered.
My child turned 18 in November. When does coverage end?
On March 31 of the following year — the first March 31 after the child turns 18, which for most children is the end of high school.
Forgot to bring the certificate to the hospital — what now?
Pay at the counter and keep the original receipt. Then send the claim form to the Ward with the receipt and bank details. Do it early, because claims can expire.
SOURCES

Official sources (in Japanese)

HTML
Minato Ward official page
子ども医療費助成 (Child Medical Care Subsidy)
city.minato.tokyo.jp/.../kodomoiryo.html
JP
Japanese version on this site
港区子ども医療費助成
minato-kosodate.com/minato-kodomo-iryou