If your Japanese payslip got slightly smaller this spring, you are not imagining it. Since April 2026 a child and child-rearing support levy (子ども・子育て支援金) has been added to public medical insurance premiums. For employer-based plans the rate is 0.23%, and it applies to insured people whether or not they have children. For most readers the cost is a few hundred yen a month, but it is new, it is permanent in design, and it is set to grow. This guide shows how to calculate your share, who pays, and what the money is for.
📋 Quick Navigation: What it is · What you pay · Who pays · What it funds · What to check · FAQ
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Open the Moving to Japan hub →What the levy is and when it started
Jiji Press reported in December 2025 that Japan would collect about ¥600 billion in fiscal 2026 as extra fees added to public medical insurance premiums, starting with the April 2026 installment. For salaried workers’ plans, deductions start in May 2026, although some employers collect a month later. The Children and Families Agency published the FY2026 reference rate, 0.23% for employer-based insurance, in the Official Gazette on January 15, 2026, and Kyokai Kenpo (the national health insurance association for smaller companies) uses the same figure.
What you pay each month
Jiji Press gave average monthly payments for FY2026 of about ¥550 per corporate health insurance member, about ¥300 per National Health Insurance member and about ¥200 per person in the elderly medical system. For an employee on an employer plan, the formula is your standard monthly remuneration × 0.23%, and explainers describe the cost as generally split evenly between employee and employer.
| Standard monthly remuneration | Total levy (0.23%) | Your share if split 50/50 |
|---|---|---|
| ¥250,000 | ¥575 | about ¥288 |
| ¥300,000 | ¥690 | ¥345 |
| ¥400,000 | ¥920 | ¥460 |
| ¥500,000 | ¥1,150 | ¥575 |
These are our own calculations from the published rate, before bonuses. One explainer notes that bonuses are also subject to the levy. Your actual deduction depends on your insurer and how your employer splits the cost.
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- Employees on company plans (Kyokai Kenpo, company health insurance societies and mutual aid associations) see it as a separate payslip line or inside the health insurance premium.
- Self-employed and freelancers on National Health Insurance pay through their municipality. Amounts and start dates are set locally, so look for your city’s notice.
- People with no children still pay. The levy attaches to being insured, not to being a parent.
- Foreign residents enrolled in employer insurance or National Health Insurance are insured like anyone else, so expect the same deduction. Our health insurance guide for foreigners explains enrollment duties, and the paper insurance card change covers the August 2026 switch.
What the money funds
According to Jiji, the funds support expanded child allowances and a program giving ¥100,000 to each pregnant woman, among other child-rearing measures, and the government aims to raise annual collections in stages to about ¥1 trillion from fiscal 2028. Foreign residents are eligible for several of the benefits it pays for; see our child allowance guide for expat families.
What to check this month
- Find the levy on your latest payslip. If you cannot, ask your HR or general affairs team where it sits.
- If you are on National Health Insurance, check your city’s premium notice for the support levy portion.
- Do not treat it as a mistake. It is a legally based contribution added to premiums, not an error by your employer.
- Budget for growth, since collections are planned to rise toward about ¥1 trillion a year from fiscal 2028.
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Become a TIFE member →Japan child support levy: FAQ
What is Japan’s child and child-rearing support levy?
It is a contribution added to public medical insurance premiums from April 2026 to fund child and family measures such as expanded child allowances.
How much is the levy?
The fiscal 2026 rate for employer-based insurance is 0.23 percent. Jiji Press reports average monthly payments of about 550 yen for corporate plan members, about 300 yen for National Health Insurance members and about 200 yen for the elderly medical system.
When does it appear on my payslip?
Collection began with April 2026 premiums. For salaried workers deductions start in May 2026, though some employers collect a month later.
Do foreign residents without children pay the levy?
Yes. It applies to people insured under public medical insurance whether or not they have children, and foreign residents enrolled in employer insurance or National Health Insurance are insured like anyone else.
How do I calculate my share?
Multiply your standard monthly remuneration by 0.23 percent and divide by two if the cost is split evenly. For 300,000 yen that is 345 yen a month.
Is National Health Insurance charged the same way?
No. National Health Insurance amounts are set by each municipality, so start dates and amounts vary. Check your city notice.
Sources: Jiji Press via Nippon.com (December 26, 2025); Children and Families Agency notice reported by Kaiketsu-J (January 2026); Tamagodaruma explainer. Rates and splits can vary by insurer, so confirm with your employer or city office.
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