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 living in Minato Ward, from age 0 through the end of the fiscal year of their 18th birthday (i.e., March 31 following high school), receive free insured medical care. The Ward pays the standard 30% (or 20% for under-3s) co-payment for you.
At any clinic or hospital, present both your health 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, all households eligible. Hospital meal fees during inpatient stays are also covered — a generous detail that many other wards exclude.YOUR OUT-OF-POCKET COST
0JPY
For all insured medical visits, prescriptions, hospitalizations, and surgeries — including hospital meal standard fees during stays. Show your insurance card + child medical certificate at the counter.
COVERAGE
What is covered, and what is not
"Free" applies to insured medical care only. Self-pay treatments, optional services, and certain administrative items 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 (食事療養費)
FREE
Pharmacy prescriptions (paid by insurance)
FREE
Self-pay (non-insured) treatments
NOT COVERED
Private room fees (差額ベッド代)
NOT COVERED
Optional vaccines, health check-ups
NOT COVERED
Medical certificates / paperwork fees
NOT COVERED
Injuries at school / daycare (covered by separate disaster fund)
NOT COVERED HERE
For school/daycare injuries, the Japan Sport Council's Disaster Mutual Aid Benefit usually pays first, and only the residual is then covered by this subsidy. The school will guide you through that paperwork.
THE THREE CERTIFICATE TYPES
"Maru-Nyu / Maru-Ko / Maru-Sei" by age
The medical certificate switches automatically as your child grows — Minato re-issues it before the new tier begins.
マル乳 (Maru-Nyu) — ages 0 to elementary-school entry
Issued shortly after birth (or move-in). Covers from birth through the March 31 before the child enters elementary school.
マル子 (Maru-Ko) — elementary & junior-high school
Automatically re-issued at the start of elementary school (April of age 6/7). Covers through the end of junior high (March 31 of age 15).
マル青 (Maru-Sei) — high-school age
Automatically re-issued at the start of high-school year (April of age 15/16). Covers through March 31 after the 18th birthday — typically the end of high school.
HOW TO APPLY
Application process
First-time application (newborn or move-in)
- Submit the application form at any Minato Ward branch office, or via the online portal
- Required: child's health insurance card (or photocopy if not yet issued), parent's My Number, applicant's bank info (for reimbursements when needed)
- Certificate is mailed to your address within ~1–2 weeks
If you don't have the certificate yet at the time of treatment
Pay the standard insurance co-payment at the counter (kept the receipt and itemized bill), then file a reimbursement claim at the Ward office. Apply within roughly 6 months of the visit. The full out-of-pocket amount will be refunded to your bank account.
Visiting a hospital outside Tokyo
Tokyo's intra-prefectural network accepts the Minato certificate at most clinics in the 23 wards and outside-Tokyo. Outside Tokyo (other prefectures): pay first, then reimburse via the same process. Same caps and coverage apply (no upper limit on per-visit reimbursement).
FAQ
Common questions
My family income is high. Are we still eligible?
Yes. Minato Ward has no income limit for this subsidy. Every Minato-resident family with children up to age 18 (March 31 after 18th birthday) is eligible.
Hospital meals during inpatient stays — really free?
Yes. Minato Ward explicitly includes the hospital meal standard fee (食事療養標準負担額) in coverage. This is uncommon — many wards exclude it. You'll see a line item on the bill, but you don't pay it at discharge.
My child needs orthodontics — covered?
Only if the orthodontic treatment is covered by health insurance (rare, only for severe medical conditions like cleft palate). Standard cosmetic orthodontics are self-pay and not covered.
My child became 18 in November. When does coverage end?
On March 31 of the following year. Specifically, the end of the fiscal year (会計年度) in which your child turns 18 — this typically aligns with high-school graduation.
Forgot to bring the certificate to the hospital — what now?
Pay the standard co-payment. Keep the receipt and itemized bill. Submit the reimbursement form to Minato Ward (within ~6 months). The Ward will refund the full amount to your bank account.
SOURCES