Prime Highlights
- Japan’s health ministry proposed covering the full cost of childbirth under public health insurance, replacing the current lump-sum allowance.
- The move aims to eliminate out-of-pocket delivery costs and reduce regional disparitiesin childbirth expenses across the country.
Key Facts
- The national average cost of childbirth reached ¥519,805 in fiscal 2024, with regional variations from ¥400,000 in Kumamototo ¥650,000 in Tokyo.
- Extra non-medical services like beauty treatments and special meals remain excluded, while cesarean section insurance coverage stays at 30% out-of-pocket.
Background
Japan’s health ministry on Thursday proposed making the full cost of childbirth covered by public health insurance, in a major shift aimed at easing the financial burden on families. The proposal was presented to the Social Security Council’s medical insurance subcommittee, which advises the health minister on policy changes.
Under the plan, public insurance would replace the current lump-sum childbirth allowance, which was introduced in 1994 and gradually increased from ¥300,000 to ¥500,000 as delivery expenses continued to rise. Even with these changes, childbirth costs have grown faster than the allowance, with the national average reaching ¥519,805 in fiscal 2024. The ministry said delivery costs vary widely, around ¥650,000 in Tokyo but nearly ¥400,000 in Kumamoto Prefecture.
The new system aims to eliminate out-of-pocket delivery costs and reduce these regional gaps. A fixed fee per delivery will be set, and the amount will be paid directly to medical institutions. However, the ministry clarified that extra services such as beauty treatments and special meals provided after childbirth will continue to be charged to postpartum women. The share of out-of-pocket expenses for cesarean sections, which are already covered by insurance, will remain unchanged at 30%.
To improve maternity care standards, the ministry is also considering a recognition system for medical institutions that maintain strong staffing levels, modern equipment, and the ability to accept high-risk pregnancies.
The ministry said hospitals may need time to adjust and proposed a phased rollout. Facilities that finish the required preparations will adopt the system first, making it easier to expand full insurance coverage for childbirth across the country.
