About the Medical Expense Subsidy System for Children with Chronic Specific Diseases

This system provides public subsidies to cover part of the medical expenses of children and other persons suffering from chronic diseases designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, and whose illnesses are severe enough to exceed a certain level.

News

Regarding the discontinuation of the insurer name, symbol and number, and applicable category on the medical benefit certificate for children with specified chronic diseases.

Effective March 1, 2026, administrative procedures related to inquiries about income categories in health insurance will be abolished.
Accordingly, the insurer name, symbol and number, and applicable category will be changed on the medical expense recipient certificate for specified chronic childhood diseases.The description has been discontinued.Will be
In medical institutions, in order to confirm income categories,Utilization of online qualification verification systems, etc.please.
Furthermore, although the changes will take effect from March 1, 2026, for the time being, recipient certificates, including those already issued, will continue to contain the above information.
If it is stated on the recipient certificatePlease use the online qualification verification system to check the latest information.
Informational leaflet (PDF249KB） (PDF814 KB）

Regarding the addition of target diseases

As of April 1, 2025, the number of diseases covered by the Childhood Chronic Specific Disease Medical Expense Subsidy System has been expanded to 801, with the addition of 13 new diseases.

Please see below for the newly added disease names, etc.

Eligible persons

Children under the age of 18 whose guardians have addresses in Fukuoka City and who suffer from a chronic illness as specified by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.　

*Those who are covered by this program and need continued treatment upon reaching the age of 20 can extend their coverage until they are XNUMX years old. However, please note that if you do not complete the renewal procedure after reaching the age of XNUMX and the period expires, new applications will not be accepted.
*In addition to being suffering from a chronic disease as defined by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, the severity of the disease must meet the certification standards for this project, so please consult a designated doctor.

Target disease

There are a total of 801 diseases covered (as of November 7, 4). For a list of the diseases covered and their certification criteria (degree of disease status as determined by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare), please check the "National Center for Information on Chronic Childhood Diseases."

Homepage of the National Center for Information on Chronic Childhood Diseases

Self-pay amount

The amount of self-payment will vary depending on the household's income situation and the condition of the child (if the child meets the criteria for being a critical patient or a person using a ventilator, etc.).

About critically ill patients

If you meet the certification criteria for the target disease and are found to meet the criteria for severe patient certification, the "Severe" column in the "Table of Maximum Copayment Amounts" will apply. (A separate application for severe patient certification is required.)

For those using artificial respirators, etc.

If you meet the certification criteria for a disease you have, and you are constantly wearing a ventilator via a tracheotomy, a ventilator via a nose or face mask, or an external or implantable ventilator, and you are recognized as meeting all of the following requirements, the "Respirator Wearer" column in the "Table of Maximum Self-Payment Amounts" will apply. (A separate application for a ventilator wearer is required.)

Certification standards for artificial respirator users

• The need for the use of a ventilator, etc. is caused by a disease that has been certified as a specific chronic childhood disease.
• Patients who require 24-hour artificial respiration management and are unlikely to be weaned (regardless of whether oxygen is being administered)
• What is currently being implemented
• (1) Eating, (2) Dressing, (3) Transfers (from bed to chair to wheelchair), and (4) Moving around outdoors must all require full or partial assistance.

High cost and long term

If the total medical expenses for the approved medical expenses payment exceeds 12 yen for six or more months within 5 months from the month of receiving approval for medical expenses for specific chronic childhood diseases, the "Severe" column in the "Self-Payment Limit Table" will be applied (a separate application is required).

(Note) This does not include medical expenses paid by institutions that are not certified to provide medical expenses for specific chronic childhood diseases, or medical expenses for diseases not listed on the recipient's certificate.

About the self-payment limit management slip

Co-payments are incurred for insured medical treatment at hospitals and clinics, insured dispensing fees at pharmacies for outpatient prescriptions, and visiting nursing fees at visiting nursing stations. Co-payments are managed using a "Co-payment Maximum Management Sheet," so be sure to present this along with your medical benefits certificate at the medical institution counter. Those who do not have any co-payments do not need to use this management sheet.

About application

For details on how to apply, please seeRegarding applications for designated chronic childhood diseases (PDF571 KB） .

New application

Required documents

• Regarding applications for designated chronic childhood diseases (PDF571 KB）
• Medical opinion form for specific chronic childhood diseases The format of the medical opinion form varies depending on the disease. They can be downloaded from the "Children's Chronic Disease Information Center."
  (reference)Homepage of the National Center for Information on Chronic Childhood Diseases
  (Note) For those who meet the criteria for certification as a serious patient or those using a ventilator, a separate medical opinion from a designated doctor is required.
• Application Form for Certification of Medical Expense Reimbursement for Specific Chronic Childhood Diseases (PDF134 KB）
• Documents to be attached when applying for certification as a severely ill patient (PDF162 KB）
• Documents to be attached when applying for a ventilator or other medical device. (PDF74 KB）
• Consent form for inquiries to insurers (PDF94 KB）
• Consent form for use in research, etc. (PDF378 KB）

Application method

〇Normal

Your local ward's health and welfare centerHealth departmentTo the windowVisitor sending us a message onMailingSubmit the necessary documents at

(Note) If there are any deficiencies in the documents, the procedure will not be completed.There may be a delay in the start of medical expenses assistance.Please be careful.

* When using the Pittari Service (described below)

In perfect serviceEnter your application detailsand the health and welfare center in your ward.Health departmentTo the windowVisitor sending us a message onMailingでOther than the application formSubmit required documents

Start of electronic submission of applications through Pittari Service (February 2025)

From February 28, XNUMX,"Perfect Service"Application form usingElectronic Notificationis now possible.

If you wish to submit your notification electronically, please access the application form at the URL below, enter the necessary information, and submit your notification.

Perfect service URL

[Perfect Service] Click here to enter the new application form for the Childhood Chronic Disease Medical Cost Subsidy Program

Points to note

• Electronic filing alone is not enough.The procedure is not completed.
• After submitting the electronic notification, you will need to submit the necessary documents, such as a medical opinion.Visitor sending us a message onMailingYou will need to submit it at.
• Once all documents have been submittedApplication complete.

(Reference) What is the Perfect Fit Service?

This is one of the functions of My Number Portal.The state providesElectronic application service

<Documents that must be submitted in original>

(1) Medical opinion

(2) Municipal Resident Tax (Exemption) Certificate (Certificate of Welfare Recipients)

　(If you have consented to tax audits in the application form, no need to submit this.)

(3) Consent form for the use of medical opinion information for research, etc. in applications for medical expense subsidies for specific chronic childhood diseases (if consent is given)

(4) Consent form for inquiries to the insurer (if the insurer is a national health insurance association)

(5) Documents to be attached when applying for a medical certificate for severe cases (if applicable)

(6) Documents to be attached when applying for artificial respirator, etc. (if applicable)

Change application

When procedures are required

(1) When there is a change in the medical insurance to which the patient is enrolled.

(2) When there is a change in the status of a specific chronic childhood disease

• This applies only when the disease name and diagnosis at the time of the initial application have changed as a result of a pathological diagnosis, etc.
• If other diseases are added,New application required.

(3) When there is a change in the approved monthly self-payment upper limit exception

• Eligible for "serious patient certification"
• Corresponding to "high cost and long term"
• Applicable to those who use artificial respirators
• "Applicable to the special household apportionment exception"

(4) When there is a change in the address or name of the patient or applicant.

Required documents

In the cases of (1), (2), and (3)

• Application Form for Certification of Medical Expense Reimbursement for Specific Chronic Childhood Diseases (PDF134 KB）
• Regarding (1), in cases such as "changing from social insurance to social insurance without changing the insured person and dependents," the "Notification of Change" below may be accepted. If you are unclear, please ask.

Case (4)

• Notification of Change/Return of Medical Treatment Certificate for Children with Chronic Specific Diseases (PDF107 KB）

Application method

Your local ward's health and welfare centerHealth departmentTo the windowVisitor sending us a message onMailingSubmit the necessary documents at

Reissue

When procedures are required

When your certificate is lost, damaged or defaced

Required documents

• Application form for reissuance of medical treatment certificate for children with specified chronic diseases (PDF95 KB）

return

When procedures are required

• When there is no longer a need for medical support for children with specific chronic childhood diseases due to recovery, death, etc.
• When you move from Fukuoka City to another prefecture, etc.

Required documents

Notification of Change/Return of Medical Treatment Certificate for Children with Chronic Specific Diseases (PDF107 KB）

Eligibility for medical expense assistance

The medical institution must be notified in advance by the prefectural governor, the mayor of a designated city, or the mayor of a core city (hereinafter referred to as the prefectural governor, etc.) in which the medical institution is located.Designated medical institution(Hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and visiting nurse businesses)Only if you received medical treatment atYou can receive subsidies for medical expenses (including prescription medical expenses).

The information on "designated medical institutions for chronic pediatric diseases" designated by Fukuoka City is as shown in the list below. For other cities, please check the website of each local government.

• List of Designated Medical Institutions (Hospitals and Clinics) (As of January 2, 2026) (PDF588 KB）
• List of Designated Medical Institutions (Pharmacies) (As of January 2, 2026) (PDF931 KB）
• List of Designated Medical Institutions (Visiting Nurse Stations) (As of January 2, 2026) (PDF521 KB）

About medical opinion

The medical opinion (medical certificate) required for the application for medical expenses for chronic childhood diseases must be obtained from the prefectural governor, etc."Designated physician for specific chronic pediatric diseases"by a doctor designated byDescription is required.

The information on "designated physicians for specific chronic pediatric diseases" certified by Fukuoka City is listed below. For information on physicians outside Fukuoka City, please check the website of each local government.

• List of designated physicians for chronic childhood diseases (as of January 2, 2026) (PDF938 KB）

About redemption payments

If you have paid medical expenses to a designated medical institution etc. in excess of the self-payment limit stated on your medical recipient card, or if you received medical expenses related to a specific chronic childhood illness between the time you applied for certification to receive medical expenses for that illness and the time your medical recipient card was issued, you may be eligible for a refund by applying for reimbursement.

• Regarding applications for reimbursement (PDF436 KB）
• Fukuoka City Application Form for Medical Expense Reimbursement for Chronic Childhood Diseases (PDF228 KB）
• Receipt Certificate (for medical institutions) (PDF108 KB）
• Receipt Certificate (for dispensing pharmacies) (PDF108 KB）

Related Links

Fukuoka City Homepage

Fukuoka City Respite Care Program for Children with Chronic Specific Illnesses

This program provides support to facilitate temporary hospitalization at medical institutions so that children with specific chronic diseases and their families can live a recuperating life in the community with peace of mind, and so that caregivers can have a rest.

For information on the Fukuoka City Child Chronic Specific Illness Respite Support Program, click here

External homepage

Fukuoka City Incurable Disease Consultation and Support Center

The Rare Disease Consultation and Support Center provides services such as "Rare Disease Consultation and Support" and "Support for the independence of children with chronic specific pediatric diseases" to support patients with rare diseases and their families living in the community.

　Address: 〒812-8562　3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka Kyushu University Hospital, North Building 2nd floor

　TEL:092-643-8292

　FAX: 092-643-1389

　Reception hours: 9:00 to 16:00 (Note) Excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays

Fukuoka City Incurable Disease Consultation and Support Center

Contact Us