Japan to address public insurance coverage for childbirth

The Japanese government is gearing up for discussions on extending public health insurance coverage to include childbirth starting in fiscal 2026. This move comes as part of a larger strategy to address the country’s declining birth rate and rising childbirth expenses.

Currently, public health insurance does not cover childbirth costs, except for a few exceptions like cesarean sections. The average cost of childbirth in Japan was around ¥482,000 in fiscal 2022, with significant variations across different prefectures. Tokyo had the highest average cost at about ¥600,000, while Kumamoto had the lowest at ¥360,000.

To alleviate the financial burden on families, the government raised the lump-sum childbirth allowance to ¥500,000 in April 2023. However, this amount may not cover all related costs, especially in urban areas where expenses tend to be higher.

Under the proposed plan, women giving birth would be required to pay 30% of the childbirth cost if covered by public medical insurance. The government is also considering creating a system to make out-of-pocket payments effectively zero for childbirth expenses up to ¥500,000.

In addition, discussions will be held to establish a uniform price for delivery support and related services to prevent rising costs. However, setting the price too low could pose risks to medical institutions in urban areas. The government aims to strike a balance between affordability for families and sustainability for healthcare providers.