Japan govt proposes full insurance coverage for child delivery costs

The proposal was presented to the Social Security Council's medical insurance subcommittee, which discusses the advisability of eliminating out-of-pocket expenses related to childbirth. The council advises the health minister.

With the full insurance coverage of child delivery cost, which is intended to reduce the financial burden related to childbirth and close the regional gap in parturition cost, the ministry plans to abolish the existing allowance that is provided when a baby is born.

The government set up the allowance program in 1994 to support expectant and nursing mothers as the cost of normal delivery is not covered by health insurance.

The allowance, which stood at 300,000 yen at the start, was raised from 420,000 yen to 500,000 yen in principle in 2023.

But the average childbirth cost in the country reached 519,805 yen in fiscal 2024, exceeding the aid amount.

The average stood at some 650,000 yen in Tokyo, far more than about 400,000 yen in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto.

For the planned full health insurance coverage for parturition cost, a basic fee per delivery will be set, and the amount will be provided to medical institutions.

Meanwhile, special congratulatory meals and beauty treatments offered to postpartum women at hospitals and clinics will not be covered by health insurance in principle.

The ministry will also consider introducing a system to commend medical institutions that have sufficient staff and equipment, and readily accept pregnant women with high childbirth risks.

In response to the view that a certain period of time is needed to start health insurance coverage for child delivery costs, the ministry also proposed a phased approach under which the new system would be first introduced at medical institutions that have completed necessary preparations.