News Japan considers fully subsidising childbirth costs from April 2026

Japan's health ministry is preparing to scrap out-of-pocket expenses for childbirth as early as April next year to counter the nation's falling birth rate. Under a plan endorsed on Wednesday by a panel of experts, one option involves including standard delivery costs under the public health insurance system.

At present, natural childbirth is not covered by insurance, as it is not classified as a medical treatment for illness or injury. However, procedures such as cesarean sections are insured as exceptions. The proposal suggests that epidurals, used to relieve labour pain, would likely continue to be excluded from coverage.

While the government currently provides a lump-sum payment of 500,000 yen ($3,400) for each childbirth, delivery costs have been on the rise and often exceed that amount. The average cost nationwide for a normal childbirth in the first half of fiscal 2024 was around 518,000 yen, figures from the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry showed. If childbirth becomes qualified for public coverage, a unified price will be set nationwide. But obstetricians have expressed concerns that the move could cause financial strain for medical institutions due to reduced revenue.

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I checked childbirth costs in my home country: the costs for all preliminary examinations, birth, postnatal care during the postpartum period, and, if applicable, the midwife's on-call availability range between 1,000 and 1,500 euros. The parents must cover these expenses. However, it is possible to apply for reimbursement from the health insurance provider. The reimbursement typically covers 80% of the standard rate for the respective service.

What makes childbirth in Japan expensive is that mothers usually stay at the hospital for up to a week after giving birth.

Mrs Lothor made a small profit out of the birth of our first child. She decided on a home birth for both children (which is very rare in Japan), which greatly reduced the cost, and it turned out to be less than the amount the state provided.

The reason for the home birth was not to save money, by the way!

Lothor said:

Mrs Lothor made a small profit out of the birth of our first child. She decided on a home birth for both children (which is very rare in Japan), which greatly reduced the cost, and it turned out to be less than the amount the state provided.

The reason for the home birth was not to save money, by the way!

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Oh I thought you were going to say she sold the child. That could be profitable and save a lot of money in the long run.

mdchachi said:

Oh I thought you were going to say she sold the child. That could be profitable and save a lot of money in the long run.

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We were occasionally approached by talent scouts when the boys were small, but selling them to Johnny's Jimusho would have been a dastardly act!