Ginowan City: child medical expense subsidy (こども医療費助成)
Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture covers child medical expenses for both outpatient and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (end of high-school age), with no income limit and no co-payment, from October 2025 (city website, checked October 19, 2026). The national survey (as of April 1, 2025) recorded both outpatient and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school); income limit: none; co-payment: none. There is no out-of-pocket charge for insured care, so it is effectively free.
In the national survey (as of April 1, 2025), ginowan City does not meet coverage through age 18 of the three conditions (coverage through age 18, no income limit, no co-payment). In Okinawa Prefecture, 24 of 41 municipalities meet all three.
Ginowan City calls this program "こども医療費助成". This site uses the national survey's term, "child medical expense subsidy".
- Covered until (Outpatient)
- Age 18(from October 2025, official site)national survey (as of April 1, 2025): Age 15
- Covered until (Inpatient)
- Age 18(from October 2025, official site)national survey (as of April 1, 2025): Age 15
- Income limit
- No(from October 2025, official site)national survey (as of April 1, 2025): No
- Co-payment
- No(from October 2025, official site)national survey (as of April 1, 2025): No
- Coverage through age 18
- Yes(from October 2025, official site)
- Population
- 100,443(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 16.6%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Ginowan City.
Child medical expense subsidy
From October 2025, Ginowan City extends the subsidy from the end of junior high school to the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (high school age). For both outpatient and inpatient care, showing the eligibility card means nothing is paid at the counter. This is newer than the national survey shown above (as of April 1, 2025). Official website (checked October 19, 2026)
| Item | Outpatient | Inpatient |
|---|---|---|
| Covered until | Age 15 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school) | Age 15 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school) |
| 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 Ginowan 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) (from October 2025, official website).
There is no out-of-pocket charge for insured care, so it is effectively free.
Are high school students covered in Ginowan 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).
High school students have been covered since October 2025.
Does Ginowan City apply an income limit?
No (from October 2025, official website).
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Ginowan 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 Ginowan City changed its conditions since last year?
No. The national surveys as of April 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025 record the same conditions.
However, according to the official website, the conditions changed from October 2025. From October 2025, Ginowan City extends the subsidy from the end of junior high school to the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 18 (high school age). For both outpatient and inpatient care, showing the eligibility card means nothing is paid at the counter. This is newer than the national survey shown above (as of April 1, 2025).
How does Ginowan City compare with other municipalities in Okinawa Prefecture?
In the national survey (as of April 1, 2025), ginowan City does not meet coverage through age 18 of the three conditions (coverage through age 18, no income limit, no co-payment). In Okinawa Prefecture, 24 of 41 municipalities meet all three.
If I move out of Ginowan 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 Okinawa Prefecture: Naha City, Okinawa City, Uruma City, Urasoe City, Tomigusuku City, Nago City, Itoman City, Miyakojima City
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Ginowan City
Ginowan City had 10 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (3,984 applicants, 3,892 enrolled; 19 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 76 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 1,724 registered).
| Item | Value | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery waiting list | 10 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Waiting list a year earlier (April 1, 2025) | 19 | Apr 1, 2025 |
| Nursery applicants | 3,984 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 3,892 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 76 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 1,724 | 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 Ginowan City
Ginowan City has 41 urban parks (40.9 ha), or 4.1 m² per resident (Rank 22 of 41 in the prefecture). It has 1 libraries, 1 community centers, 31 nursery schools and 10 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 | 41 | Rank 7 of 41 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 40.9 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 4.1 m² | Rank 22 of 41 in the prefecture | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 1 | Rank 23 of 41 in the prefecture | 2021 |
| Community centers | 1 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 31 | Rank 22 of 41 in the prefecture | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 12 | — | 2024 |
| Elementary schools | 10 | — | 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 Ginowan City
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 100,443Rank 5 of 41 in the prefecture2024
- Share under 15
- 16.6%Rank 22 of 41 in the prefecture2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 18.9%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 1.6%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- -65Rank 20 of 41 in the prefecture2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 9.6Rank 8 of 41 in the prefecture2023
- Nursery schools
- 312023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 1.86Rank 22 of 41 in the prefecture2023
- Kindergartens
- 122024
- Elementary schools
- 102024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 10.2Rank 29 of 41 in the prefecture2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 5.02023
- General hospitals
- 32023
- Owner-occupied homes
- 32.6%2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- 67.7 m²2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.66Rank 4 of 41 in the prefecture2022
- Restaurants
- 4602021
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 Okinawa Prefecture
| Municipality | Population | Outpatient until | Income limit | Co-payment (outpatient / inpatient) | Nursery waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ginowan City | 100,443 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 10 |
| Naha City | 313,424 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 15 |
| Okinawa City | 141,739 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 7 |
| Uruma City | 126,948 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Urasoe City | 115,486 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 3 |
| Tomigusuku City | 65,889 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 2 |
| Nago City | 64,734 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Itoman City | 62,250 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 1 |
| Miyakojima City | 55,656 | Age 15 | 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.