Zao Town: child medical expense subsidy
In Zao Town, Miyagi 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 Miyagi Prefecture, 34 of 35 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Zao Town is one of them.
Zao Town is one of 34 municipalities in Miyagi 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
- 10,916(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 10.2%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Zao Town.
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 Zao Town 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 Zao Town?
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 Zao Town apply an income limit?
No (as of April 1, 2025).
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Zao Town?
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 Zao Town 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 Zao Town compare with other municipalities in Miyagi Prefecture?
In Miyagi Prefecture, 34 of 35 municipalities cover outpatient care through age 18, and Zao Town is one of them.
Zao Town is one of 34 municipalities in Miyagi 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 Zao Town, 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 Miyagi Prefecture: Matsushima Town, Marumori Town, Minamisanriku Town, Yamamoto Town, Murata Town, Kawasaki Town, Osato Town, Shikama Town
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Zao Town
Zao Town had 0 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (180 applicants, 180 enrolled; 0 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 0 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 163 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 | 180 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 180 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 0 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 163 | 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 Zao Town
Zao Town has 3 urban parks (19.6 ha), or 19.7 m² per resident (Rank 13 of 35 in the prefecture). It has 1 libraries, 6 community centers, 1 nursery schools and 5 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 | 3 | Rank 27 of 35 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 19.6 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 19.7 m² | Rank 13 of 35 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 1 | Rank 2 of 35 in the prefecture | 2021 |
| Community centers | 6 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 1 | Rank 27 of 35 in the prefecture | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 2 | — | 2024 |
| Elementary schools | 5 | — | 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 Zao Town
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 10,916Rank 28 of 35 in the prefecture2024
- Share under 15
- 10.2%Rank 23 of 35 in the prefecture2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 38.2%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 0.6%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- -8Rank 12 of 35 in the prefecture2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 2.6Rank 33 of 35 in the prefecture2023
- Nursery schools
- 12023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 0.86Rank 27 of 35 in the prefecture2023
- Kindergartens
- 22024
- Elementary schools
- 52024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 7.3Rank 28 of 35 in the prefecture2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 6.42023
- General hospitals
- 12023
- Owner-occupied homes
- —2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- —2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.44Rank 23 of 35 in the prefecture2022
- Restaurants
- 482021
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 Miyagi Prefecture
| Municipality | Population | Outpatient until | Income limit | Co-payment (outpatient / inpatient) | Nursery waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zao Town | 10,916 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Matsushima Town | 12,885 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Marumori Town | 11,571 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Minamisanriku Town | 11,498 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Yamamoto Town | 11,427 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Murata Town | 9,816 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Kawasaki Town | 7,938 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Osato Town | 7,480 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Shikama Town | 6,103 | 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.