Minamata City: child medical expense subsidy
In Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture, the child medical expense subsidy covers both outpatient and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age). Income limit: none. Co-payment: none. (As of April 1, 2025, Children and Families Agency survey.) There is no out-of-pocket charge for insured care, so it is effectively free.
In Kumamoto Prefecture, 45 of 45 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Minamata City is one of them.
Minamata City is one of 43 municipalities in Kumamoto Prefecture that meet all three conditions: coverage through age 18 for both outpatient and inpatient care, no income limit, and no co-payment.
Municipalities call this program by different names (小児医療費助成, こども医療費助成, 乳幼児医療費助成, 子育て支援医療). This site uses the national survey's term, "child medical expense subsidy".
- Covered until (Outpatient)
- Age 18(April 1, 2025)
- Covered until (Inpatient)
- Age 18(April 1, 2025)
- Income limit
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Co-payment
- No(April 1, 2025)
- Coverage through age 18
- Yes(April 1, 2025)
- Population
- 21,639(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 11.3%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Minamata City.
Child medical expense subsidy
| Item | Outpatient | Inpatient |
|---|---|---|
| Covered until | Age 18 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age) | Age 18 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age) |
| Income limit | No | No |
| Co-payment | No | No |
No change since April 1, 2024
Source: Children and Families Agency, Survey on Municipal Child Medical Expense Subsidies (municipal form, attachment 3) (As of April 1, 2025). Last checked September 24, 2026
The national survey records conditions as of April 1 and is published in December. Some municipalities have expanded coverage since then. Confirm the current conditions on the municipality's official website.
Frequently asked questions
Until what age does Minamata City subsidize child medical expenses?
Both outpatient and inpatient care are covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age) (as of April 1, 2025).
There is no out-of-pocket charge for insured care, so it is effectively free.
Are high school students covered in Minamata City?
Yes. Both outpatient and inpatient care are covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (the end of the third year of high school).
Does Minamata City apply an income limit?
No (as of April 1, 2025).
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Minamata City?
No. Both are covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age); income limit: no; co-payment: no.
Has Minamata City changed its conditions since last year?
No. The national surveys as of April 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025 record the same conditions.
How does Minamata City compare with other municipalities in Kumamoto Prefecture?
In Kumamoto Prefecture, 45 of 45 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Minamata City is one of them.
Minamata City is one of 43 municipalities in Kumamoto Prefecture that meet all three conditions: coverage through age 18 for both outpatient and inpatient care, no income limit, and no co-payment.
If I move out of Minamata City, do the same conditions apply?
No. The subsidy is run by the municipality you live in, so the new municipality's conditions apply. Check its page on this site, and confirm the procedure on that municipality's official website.
Municipalities of similar size in Kumamoto Prefecture: Mashiki Town, Hitoyoshi City, Aso City, Kamiamakusa City, Mifune Town, Nagasu Town, Ashikita Town, Asagiri Town
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Minamata City
Minamata City had 0 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (450 applicants, 450 enrolled; 0 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 1 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 330 registered).
| Item | Value | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery waiting list | 0 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Waiting list a year earlier (April 1, 2025) | 0 | Apr 1, 2025 |
| Nursery applicants | 450 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 450 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 1 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 330 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
"Waiting" follows the national definition: applicants not enrolled, excluding those on parental leave, those who want only a specific facility, and those who have paused their job search. Zero does not guarantee a place at a preferred facility. After-school club figures are preliminary and may be revised.
Source: Children and Families Agency, Summary of Nursery Care Status (April 1, 2026) / Children and Families Agency, Status of After-School Clubs (May 1, 2026, preliminary)
Parks, libraries, community centers and nursery schools in Minamata City
Minamata City has 8 urban parks (74.8 ha), or 35.6 m² per resident (Rank 1 of 45 in the prefecture). It has 1 libraries, 2 community centers, 6 nursery schools and 8 elementary schools.
Urban parks: MLIT inventory as of March 31, 2025. Libraries and community centers: e-Stat, 2021. Nursery and elementary schools: e-Stat.
| Item | Value | Rank in prefecture | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban parks | 8 | Rank 17 of 45 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 74.8 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 35.6 m² | Rank 1 of 45 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 1 | Rank 15 of 45 in the prefecture | 2021 |
| Community centers | 2 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 6 | Rank 36 of 45 in the prefecture | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 2 | — | 2024 |
| Elementary schools | 8 | — | 2024 |
Source: MLIT, Inventory of Urban Parks (end of FY2024, as of March 31, 2025) / e-Stat, Statistical Observations of Municipalities 2026 (Statistics Bureau of Japan)
Population, share of children, net migration and doctors in Minamata City
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 21,639Rank 17 of 45 in the prefecture2024
- Share under 15
- 11.3%Rank 25 of 45 in the prefecture2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 40.9%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 0.3%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- -177Rank 37 of 45 in the prefecture2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 3.6Rank 38 of 45 in the prefecture2023
- Nursery schools
- 62023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 2.24Rank 36 of 45 in the prefecture2023
- Kindergartens
- 22024
- Elementary schools
- 82024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 48.1Rank 1 of 45 in the prefecture2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 10.62023
- General hospitals
- 52023
- Owner-occupied homes
- 75.1%2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- 100.1 m²2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.37Rank 18 of 45 in the prefecture2022
- Restaurants
- 1142021
Source: e-Stat, Statistical Observations of Municipalities 2026 (Statistics Bureau of Japan)
"—" means e-Stat has no value for this item (the Housing and Land Survey does not cover towns and villages).
Compare with similar-sized municipalities in Kumamoto Prefecture
| Municipality | Population | Outpatient until | Income limit | Co-payment (outpatient / inpatient) | Nursery waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minamata City | 21,639 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Mashiki Town | 34,107 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Hitoyoshi City | 29,742 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Aso City | 24,170 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Kamiamakusa City | 23,592 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Mifune Town | 17,270 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Nagasu Town | 15,220 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Ashikita Town | 14,877 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Asagiri Town | 14,058 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
Outpatient age limit, income limit and co-payment are the national survey values as of April 1, 2025.
Page updated: . You may quote this table. Please credit Machishirabe and the original survey.