How Much Does It Cost to Give Birth in Japan ?
Expenses and Subsidies During Pregnancy
and For Childbirth
Pregnancy and childbirth are not health problems, so public health insurance will not cover them in Japan. (It can cover treatment when morning sickness is severe and for cesarean section surgery.) Basically, you will be responsible for all the pregnancy and childbirth expenses.
However, if you notify your pregnancy to the Child Care Support Division, “子育て支援課 kosodate shienka”, of the municipality of your residential registration, “住民票 juminhyo”, you will receive subsidy tickets (medical examination coupons) for about 14 prenatal examinations along with the "Mother and Child Health Handbook", 母子手帳 boshitecho. You might be able to receive these coupons even if you are not registered or have overstayed. You will pay less with these coupons. The content and amount of the subsidy varies depending on each municipality. There are also expenses such as preparing baby supplies and daily necessities (diapers, milk, etc.), before and after the baby is born.
However, if you notify your pregnancy to the Child Care Support Division, “子育て支援課 kosodate shienka”, of the municipality of your residential registration, “住民票 juminhyo”, you will receive subsidy tickets (medical examination coupons) for about 14 prenatal examinations along with the "Mother and Child Health Handbook", 母子手帳 boshitecho. You might be able to receive these coupons even if you are not registered or have overstayed. You will pay less with these coupons. The content and amount of the subsidy varies depending on each municipality. There are also expenses such as preparing baby supplies and daily necessities (diapers, milk, etc.), before and after the baby is born.
Expenses for Prenatal Checkups
Pregnancy tests (initial pregnancy test):
5,000 to 10,000 yen
* It depends on the hospital and examination.
The second and subsequent examinations:
About 5,000 to 8,000 yen.
* If you use a subsidy ticket, the actual amount you pay will often be around 2,000 to 3,000 yen.
Examinations that require a blood test will cost about 10,000 to 15,000 yen.
* There are examinations for which subsidy tickets can be used and examinations for which subsidy tickets cannot be used.
【Prenatal Checkup Subsidy Procedures】
Early pregnancy to 23 weeks: Once every 4 weeks
24 to 35 weeks: Once every 2 weeks
Once a week after 36 weeks
5,000 to 10,000 yen
* It depends on the hospital and examination.
The second and subsequent examinations:
About 5,000 to 8,000 yen.
* If you use a subsidy ticket, the actual amount you pay will often be around 2,000 to 3,000 yen.
Examinations that require a blood test will cost about 10,000 to 15,000 yen.
* There are examinations for which subsidy tickets can be used and examinations for which subsidy tickets cannot be used.
【Prenatal Checkup Subsidy Procedures】
- Obtain a diagnosis of pregnancy from an OB/GYN.
* The first medical examination is at your own expense. - Receive a母子手帳 boshitecho, a maternal and child health handbook, and a prenatal checkup subsidy ticket at the municipality office where you have your residential registration.
* In general, you will go to the municipality office for the procedure after obtaining a document (pregnancy notification form) from an obstetrician and gynecologist. (Some local governments will provide a maternal and child handbook without the documents from the OB/GYN.) If you want to use the prenatal checkup subsidy for the second and subsequent examinations, consult with your doctor about the timing of the procedure.
* The documents required to receive a maternal and child health handbook vary by municipality. Kumamoto City requires a "pregnancy notification form" from the OB/GYN.
Early pregnancy to 23 weeks: Once every 4 weeks
24 to 35 weeks: Once every 2 weeks
Once a week after 36 weeks
Expenses for Childbirth Preparation
You will also need to prepare baby supplies such as diapers and milk for your unborn baby. You will receive a subsidy (coupon or cash of about 50,000 yen) for purchasing diapers and milk from the municipality if you apply for it.
* The content of the subsidy differs depending on the municipality.
【Procedure】
After completing the procedures for receiving a maternal and child health handbook, you will receive a letter from the municipality with information on assistance. Instructions on how to proceed are included in the letter. Some municipalities allow electronic applications. For details, please ask the person in charge of the municipality when you apply for the maternal and child health handbook.
* The content of the subsidy differs depending on the municipality.
【Procedure】
After completing the procedures for receiving a maternal and child health handbook, you will receive a letter from the municipality with information on assistance. Instructions on how to proceed are included in the letter. Some municipalities allow electronic applications. For details, please ask the person in charge of the municipality when you apply for the maternal and child health handbook.
Expenses for Childbirth
Natural Childbirth:
Natural childbirth is a way of giving birth by letting nature take its course. Generally, this childbirth will not be covered by your insurance. You will be responsible for the entire cost. The cost is about 400,000 to 800,000 yen. There is also a hospitalization fee to pay.
Cesarean Delivery:
Cesarean delivery is a surgical delivery of a baby by making an incision to the abdomen of a pregnant woman and removing the baby from the mother’s belly. Cesarean delivery can be covered by health insurance, but it costs about 200,000 yen. There is also a hospitalization fee to pay.
Natural childbirth is a way of giving birth by letting nature take its course. Generally, this childbirth will not be covered by your insurance. You will be responsible for the entire cost. The cost is about 400,000 to 800,000 yen. There is also a hospitalization fee to pay.
Cesarean Delivery:
Cesarean delivery is a surgical delivery of a baby by making an incision to the abdomen of a pregnant woman and removing the baby from the mother’s belly. Cesarean delivery can be covered by health insurance, but it costs about 200,000 yen. There is also a hospitalization fee to pay.
If You Don’t Have Money to Pay for Childbirth (Hospitalization Assistance Program)
If a pregnant woman cannot pay the cost of giving birth for economic reasons, the “hospitalization assistance system”, 入院助産制度 nyuin-josan-seido, is available.
With this assistance, you can be hospitalized for childbirth at a low cost. You can use the assistance even if you do not have a health insurance or if you have overstayed. You will need to consult at the Child Care Support Division of your municipality before the hospitalization.
With this assistance, you can be hospitalized for childbirth at a low cost. You can use the assistance even if you do not have a health insurance or if you have overstayed. You will need to consult at the Child Care Support Division of your municipality before the hospitalization.
Monetary Supports You Can Receive for Childbirth and Childcare
Foreign residents such as technical intern trainees can also use the monetary support system related to childbirth and childcare, such as a lump-sum provided for childbirth and childcare allowance. Status of residence does not matter. However, each condition must be met.
Lump-Sum Allowance for Childbirth(出産育児一時金 shussan-ikuji-ichijikin)
Childbirth will not be covered by health insurance because it is not an illness. However, employee Health Insurance (健康保険Kenko Hoken) and National Health Insurance (国民健康保険 Kokumin Kenko Hoken) will subsidize the cost of childbirth.
Eligible Persons:
If you have Health Insurance or National Health Insurance, or if you are a dependent of a person with Health Insurance (if you live with, and have been financially taken care of by, the person), you can receive this allowance when you give birth. You can also receive the allowance even if you are more than four months (85 days) pregnant and had a miscarriage or stillbirth.
You can receive the allowance not only when you give birth in Japan, but also when you temporarily return and give birth in your home country while you have Health Insurance or National Health Insurance.
If you have been covered by Health Insurance for more than a year when you quit your job, you can also receive the allowance if you have given birth within six months of your retirement date. You can receive the allowance even if you give birth after quitting your job and returning home. However, in the case of National Health Insurance, you will not be able to receive it if you return to your home country and give birth after the period of stay.
The amount:
500,000 yen per child
Procedure:
In case of giving birth in Japan, when you go to the hospital for delivery, apply at the reception. Many hospitals have a "direct payment system". The money will be paid directly from the insurance to the hospital with the system. Therefore, you only have to pay the difference if the childbirth costs more than 500,000 yen. If it costs less than 500,000 yen, you will receive the difference.
If you are enrolled in the Health Insurance program and give birth in your home country, you will need to submit the "Application for Lump-Sum Allowance for Childbirth”(出産育児一時金申請書 shussan-ikuji-ichijikin-shinseisho), a copy of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook(母子手帳, boshi-techo), a birth certificate (stillbirth certificate in the case of stillbirth or miscarriage) and a Japanese translation (the application form will require a bank account number in Japan).
If you are enrolled in the National Health Insurance program and give birth in your home country, you will need to submit the following after you return to Japan: the "Application for Lump-Sum Allowance for Childbirth”(出産育児一時金申請書 shussan-ikuji-ichijikin-shinseisho), a passport, a birth certificate (stillbirth certificate in the case of stillbirth or miscarriage) and a Japanese translation, your health insurance card, your bank book, and the Maternal and Child Health Handbook(母子手帳, boshi-techo).
Eligible Persons:
If you have Health Insurance or National Health Insurance, or if you are a dependent of a person with Health Insurance (if you live with, and have been financially taken care of by, the person), you can receive this allowance when you give birth. You can also receive the allowance even if you are more than four months (85 days) pregnant and had a miscarriage or stillbirth.
You can receive the allowance not only when you give birth in Japan, but also when you temporarily return and give birth in your home country while you have Health Insurance or National Health Insurance.
If you have been covered by Health Insurance for more than a year when you quit your job, you can also receive the allowance if you have given birth within six months of your retirement date. You can receive the allowance even if you give birth after quitting your job and returning home. However, in the case of National Health Insurance, you will not be able to receive it if you return to your home country and give birth after the period of stay.
The amount:
500,000 yen per child
Procedure:
In case of giving birth in Japan, when you go to the hospital for delivery, apply at the reception. Many hospitals have a "direct payment system". The money will be paid directly from the insurance to the hospital with the system. Therefore, you only have to pay the difference if the childbirth costs more than 500,000 yen. If it costs less than 500,000 yen, you will receive the difference.
If you are enrolled in the Health Insurance program and give birth in your home country, you will need to submit the "Application for Lump-Sum Allowance for Childbirth”(出産育児一時金申請書 shussan-ikuji-ichijikin-shinseisho), a copy of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook(母子手帳, boshi-techo), a birth certificate (stillbirth certificate in the case of stillbirth or miscarriage) and a Japanese translation (the application form will require a bank account number in Japan).
If you are enrolled in the National Health Insurance program and give birth in your home country, you will need to submit the following after you return to Japan: the "Application for Lump-Sum Allowance for Childbirth”(出産育児一時金申請書 shussan-ikuji-ichijikin-shinseisho), a passport, a birth certificate (stillbirth certificate in the case of stillbirth or miscarriage) and a Japanese translation, your health insurance card, your bank book, and the Maternal and Child Health Handbook(母子手帳, boshi-techo).
Childbirth Allowance (出産手当金 shussan-teate-kin)
If you work and have health insurance, you can receive a "childbirth allowance 出産手当金 shussan-teate-kin " when you take a leave of absence from work to give birth.
Eligible Persons:
You are eligible if you have Health Insurance if you are absent from work due to childbirth, and are not paid by the company. However, it is limited to only 42 days before delivery (98 days for multiple pregnancies) to 56 days after delivery. Those with National Health Insurance are not eligible.
You can continue to receive the allowance if you have already received the allowance by one day after your retirement date and if you have been covered by health insurance for more than a year at the time you ended your employment. You are also eligible to receive it even if you have left Japan.
The amount:
You will receive two-thirds of your “standard daily salary” (the amount of salary on a day before taking leave) for the number of days of leave taken.
Procedure:
Ask your company to help you with the application process before taking a maternity leave. If your company will not help you with the application process, you can apply directly at the Health Insurance Association Office.
Eligible Persons:
You are eligible if you have Health Insurance if you are absent from work due to childbirth, and are not paid by the company. However, it is limited to only 42 days before delivery (98 days for multiple pregnancies) to 56 days after delivery. Those with National Health Insurance are not eligible.
You can continue to receive the allowance if you have already received the allowance by one day after your retirement date and if you have been covered by health insurance for more than a year at the time you ended your employment. You are also eligible to receive it even if you have left Japan.
The amount:
You will receive two-thirds of your “standard daily salary” (the amount of salary on a day before taking leave) for the number of days of leave taken.
Procedure:
Ask your company to help you with the application process before taking a maternity leave. If your company will not help you with the application process, you can apply directly at the Health Insurance Association Office.
Childcare Leave Benefit (育児休業給付金 Ikuji-kyugyo-kyufukin)
You can receive money while you are absent from work to raise your child until the age of one year old. The amount you receive depends on your salary before taking the leave.
Eligible Persons:
If you have employment insurance (雇用保険 koyo-hoken) and are absent from work using the childcare leave system, you can receive employment insurance until your child is one year old.
Even those who have a fixed labor contract, such as technical intern trainees, can take childcare leave if the employment contract continues until the child is 18 months old. If your employment contract ends before the child is 18 months old, you cannot take childcare leave. (However, if your employment contract is expected to be renewed, you can take childcare leave.) In addition, some companies have a contract between the company and its workers called the labor-management agreement (労使協定 Roushi-kyoutei), that prevents workers who have been employed for less than one year from taking childcare leave. If you have been employed for less than one year, you need to check with your company whether you can take childcare leave.
The amount:
Up to 180 days of receiving benefits, you will receive 67% of your salary before the leave. After that, you will receive 50% of your salary before the leave. Every 2 months, you will receive the money for two months at a time.
Procedure:
Ask your company to apply for you at Hello Work. If your company will not apply for you, you can apply at Hello Work directly.
Eligible Persons:
If you have employment insurance (雇用保険 koyo-hoken) and are absent from work using the childcare leave system, you can receive employment insurance until your child is one year old.
Even those who have a fixed labor contract, such as technical intern trainees, can take childcare leave if the employment contract continues until the child is 18 months old. If your employment contract ends before the child is 18 months old, you cannot take childcare leave. (However, if your employment contract is expected to be renewed, you can take childcare leave.) In addition, some companies have a contract between the company and its workers called the labor-management agreement (労使協定 Roushi-kyoutei), that prevents workers who have been employed for less than one year from taking childcare leave. If you have been employed for less than one year, you need to check with your company whether you can take childcare leave.
The amount:
Up to 180 days of receiving benefits, you will receive 67% of your salary before the leave. After that, you will receive 50% of your salary before the leave. Every 2 months, you will receive the money for two months at a time.
Procedure:
Ask your company to apply for you at Hello Work. If your company will not apply for you, you can apply at Hello Work directly.
Sickness and Injury Benefits (傷病手当金 Shoubyou-Teatekin)
The Sickness and Injury Benefit is money that you can receive during the period when you are unable to work due to illness or injury. You may also receive it if you are unwell due to pregnancy and are unable to work.
Eligible Persons:
The injury and illness benefit is a part of the Health Insurance System. Those who have National Health Insurance do not have this benefit.
The conditions for receiving the benefit differ depending on the social insurance association, but in general there are the following conditions:
The amount:
The period for receiving this benefit is up to 1 year and 6 months from the day after the 3 consecutive days off. You can receive two-thirds of your monthly salary. Even if the company pays you during the days off, you can receive the difference if it is lower than the amount of the injury and illness benefit.
Eligible Persons:
The injury and illness benefit is a part of the Health Insurance System. Those who have National Health Insurance do not have this benefit.
The conditions for receiving the benefit differ depending on the social insurance association, but in general there are the following conditions:
- Unable to work because you’re not feeling well due to pregnancy.
- Unable to work for more than 4 days, including 3 consecutive days.
- No salary is paid during the days you are unable to work.
The amount:
The period for receiving this benefit is up to 1 year and 6 months from the day after the 3 consecutive days off. You can receive two-thirds of your monthly salary. Even if the company pays you during the days off, you can receive the difference if it is lower than the amount of the injury and illness benefit.
Infant Medical Expenses Subsidy (乳幼児医療費助成 nyuyouji-iryohi-josei)
When a child is examined or treated at a hospital, the municipality in which the child lives (the municipality of the Resident Registration) will subsidize part or all of the cost.
Eligible Person:
Children with Health Insurance or National Health Insurance.
The age limits of children and contents of the subsidy vary depending on the municipality.
Amount:
The amount of subsidy varies depending on the municipality. In some municipalities, you don't have to pay any medical expenses, but in some municipalities, you have to pay some.
Procedure:
When a child is born, apply to the Child Care Support Division of your municipality and get an "Infant Medical Certificate 乳幼児医療証 nyuyouji-iryoushou". When your child visits the hospital, show the certificate along with the insurance card. You can begin using this subsidy starting from your child's 1st month medical examination, so apply in time.
Eligible Person:
Children with Health Insurance or National Health Insurance.
The age limits of children and contents of the subsidy vary depending on the municipality.
Amount:
The amount of subsidy varies depending on the municipality. In some municipalities, you don't have to pay any medical expenses, but in some municipalities, you have to pay some.
Procedure:
When a child is born, apply to the Child Care Support Division of your municipality and get an "Infant Medical Certificate 乳幼児医療証 nyuyouji-iryoushou". When your child visits the hospital, show the certificate along with the insurance card. You can begin using this subsidy starting from your child's 1st month medical examination, so apply in time.
Child Allowance (児童手当 jido-teate)
From your child’s birth to graduation from junior high school, each child will receive a monthly fee of 5,000 to 15,000 yen. (The amount you receive depends on your child's age and the household income. Households with high incomes may not be able to receive the allowance.)As a general rule, children must live in Japan to receive this benefit.
Eligible Person: Custodian (father, mother, and others) raising children up to the age of 15 (until graduating from junior high school).
Amount:
* The money will be given in four-month payments each time in June, October and February.
Procedure:
You can apply to your municipality (the municipality with your resident card) within 15 days of giving birth. If you apply late, you will not be able to receive the child allowance for the previous months.
Eligible Person: Custodian (father, mother, and others) raising children up to the age of 15 (until graduating from junior high school).
Amount:
- 0 to under 3 years old : 15,000 yen per month
- From 3 years old to graduation from elementary school (1st and 2nd child) : 10,000 yen per month
- From 3 years old to graduating from elementary school (3rd and subsequent child) : 15,000 yen per month
- Junior high school students : 10,000 yen per month
* The money will be given in four-month payments each time in June, October and February.
Procedure:
You can apply to your municipality (the municipality with your resident card) within 15 days of giving birth. If you apply late, you will not be able to receive the child allowance for the previous months.
Child Rearing Allowance (児童扶養手当 jido-fuyo-teate)
If you are a single-parent family, or if the father or the mother has a severe disability, you can receive about 10,000 to 40,000 yen depending on your income. As a general rule, children must live in Japan.
Eligible Person:
A mother or a father of a single-parent family who is raising a child up to the age of 18 (until the March 31st after turning 18), a person who is raising the child on behalf of the parents, or when a father or mother has a severe disability.
Amount:
The amount depends on the number of children and your income. Every 2 months, you will receive the money for two months at a time.
Procedure:
Apply to the Child Care Support Division (子育て支援課 kosodate-shienka) of your municipality.
Eligible Person:
A mother or a father of a single-parent family who is raising a child up to the age of 18 (until the March 31st after turning 18), a person who is raising the child on behalf of the parents, or when a father or mother has a severe disability.
Amount:
The amount depends on the number of children and your income. Every 2 months, you will receive the money for two months at a time.
Procedure:
Apply to the Child Care Support Division (子育て支援課 kosodate-shienka) of your municipality.
Subsidies for Baby’s Daily Necessities After Childbirth
After giving birth, you need a lot of daily necessities and supplies to take care of your baby. There is financial assistance for this.
Eligible Person:
Those who have submitted a birth notification and have had a postnatal interview with an officer at the municipality office.
Amount:
Coupon or cash equivalent to 50,000 yen
Procedure:
After receiving an interview, the officer will explain the procedure. For details, please check with the officer who interviewed you.
Eligible Person:
Those who have submitted a birth notification and have had a postnatal interview with an officer at the municipality office.
Amount:
Coupon or cash equivalent to 50,000 yen
Procedure:
After receiving an interview, the officer will explain the procedure. For details, please check with the officer who interviewed you.