Osaka Child Medical Subsidy: Eligibility for Foreign Residents

As a municipal medical-cost subsidy for children in Osaka City, this program generally reduces the out-of-pocket cost of insured medical treatment, and in specified cases, such as receiving care outside Osaka Prefecture, you can apply for an out-of-prefecture refund after review; it covers children from birth through March 31 following their 18th birthday who live in Osaka City and are enrolled in public health insurance (National Health Insurance, employees' health insurance, etc.). Children receiving livelihood protection (except when suspended), those placed in a child welfare facility or in foster care with medical costs covered through that placement, and those whose medical costs are fully covered by national or other public funds are not eligible. Children who already hold a severe-disability or single-parent-family medical certificate cannot use this subsidy at the same time as that certificate, but a family can choose one of the three medical subsidy programs to use. Since the income limit was removed in April 2024, household income alone no longer disqualifies a family.

Who it is for

• The child must live in Osaka City and be enrolled in public health insurance, and be aged from birth through March 31 following their 18th birthday.
• Children receiving livelihood protection (except when suspended), those placed in a child welfare facility or in foster care with medical costs covered through that placement, and those whose medical costs are fully covered by national or other public funds are not eligible for this subsidy.
• Children who already hold a severe-disability or single-parent-family medical certificate cannot use this subsidy at the same time as that certificate, but the family can choose one of the three medical subsidy programs to use.
• There is no household income limit as of April 2024, so income alone does not determine eligibility.
• A residence card can be used as identification when applying, but eligibility itself is decided by Osaka City residency, public insurance enrollment, and the coordination rules above — not by nationality.

Points to note

• This program does not make all child medical care free. For insured treatment, each institution can charge up to ¥500 per day (capped at 2 days per month), with a combined monthly cap of ¥2,500 across institutions. Costs not covered by insurance, such as document fees, are excluded.
• Foreign nationality alone does not make a child ineligible. Eligibility depends on Osaka City residency and public insurance enrollment, together with exclusion conditions such as receiving livelihood protection (unless suspended), placement in a child welfare facility or foster care, medical costs fully covered by national or other public funds, and use of a severe-disability or single-parent-family medical certificate.
• The electronic eligibility-verification system planned for October 2026 was not yet in operation as of this article's review date; do not assume it is already available.

Children on livelihood protection (except when suspended), placed in a child welfare facility or foster care, or with medical costs fully covered by national or other public funds are not eligible for this subsidy. A child who already holds a severe-disability or single-parent-family medical certificate cannot use this subsidy at the same time as that certificate, but the family can choose one of the three medical subsidy programs to use. These conditions can change with future revisions, so always confirm current details on the official page. If you were treated outside Osaka Prefecture, exceeded the monthly cap of ¥2,500, or could not present your medical certificate, you may qualify for a refund after review, but the refund application deadline is 5 years from the day after the payment date. If a health-insurance reimbursement claim must be filed first, that separate deadline is 2 years, so contact your ward health and welfare center early if this may apply to you. The electronic eligibility-verification system planned for October 2026 was not yet operating as of this article's review date.

How it works

1. Check the current age limits, copayment amounts, and exclusion conditions on Osaka City's official child medical subsidy page.
2. Contact your ward's health and welfare center to check whether livelihood protection, facility placement or foster care, full public coverage of medical costs, or use of a severe-disability or single-parent-family medical certificate applies to your case, and what documents you would need.
3. If you were treated outside Osaka Prefecture, exceeded the monthly cap, or could not show your medical certificate, ask the ward health and welfare center or the Children and Youth Bureau whether you qualify for a refund and what the deadline is.