Tokyo: In a significant move to tackle Japan’s plummeting birth rate, the Health Ministry is planning to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for normal childbirths, possibly starting from April 2026. This decision, approved by a panel of experts on May 14, aims to encourage parenthood by reducing the financial burden of delivery, reported the Straits Times.
Currently, normal childbirth is not covered under Japan’s medical insurance, as it is not classified as a medical illness or injury. As a result, medical institutions are allowed to set their own delivery charges, leading to wide price disparities across prefectures. Although the government provides a lump-sum childbirth allowance of 500,000 yen (approximately S$4,400), this often falls short due to rising delivery costs.
The new plan proposes that public health insurance will fully cover normal deliveries, setting a standardized cost nationwide. However, obstetricians have raised concerns that this policy might negatively impact medical institutions’ finances by reducing their revenue streams.
The initiative is part of Japan’s broader effort to address its record-low birth rate, which hit a historic decline in 2024. Other proposed measures include a four-day workweek for government staff to promote work-life balance and parenthood.
