Starting Next Year, Pregnancy and Childbirth Medical Expenses Will Receive an Additional 400,000 Won Support... 1,400,000 Won for Multiple Children

Support Fund Usage Period Extended from 1 Year to 2 Years After Childbirth

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Starting next year, the health insurance support amount for pregnancy and childbirth medical expenses will increase by 400,000 KRW.

The National Health Insurance Service announced on the 20th that from January 2022, the health insurance support amount for pregnancy and childbirth medical expenses will increase from 600,000 KRW to 1,000,000 KRW for a single pregnancy, and from 1,000,000 KRW to 1,400,000 KRW for multiple pregnancies. Pregnant women living in medically underserved areas will receive an additional 200,000 KRW.

With this revision, the usage period for the support funds will also be extended from the current 1 year after childbirth (including miscarriage or stillbirth) to 2 years. The coverage will expand from medical expenses and costs for purchasing drugs and treatment materials related to pregnancy and childbirth to all medical expenses and costs for purchasing drugs and treatment materials. Additionally, pregnancy and childbirth medical expenses, which could previously be used for infants under 1 year old, can now be used for children under 2 years old, including medical expenses and costs for purchasing drugs and treatment materials for infants and toddlers.

The expanded support for pregnancy and childbirth medical expenses will apply to those who apply on or after January 1 of next year. Applications made before the effective date will follow the previous regulations, and already submitted applications cannot be canceled.

Applications can be made by obtaining confirmation from an obstetrics and gynecology specialist on the ‘Health Insurance Pregnancy and Childbirth Medical Expense Support Application Form’ or by entering pregnancy and childbirth confirmation at medical institutions on the NHIS website (Medical Institution Information Plaza). Pregnant women can apply by visiting card companies, banks, or the NHIS directly, or via phone or the website.

An NHIS official stated, "We expect that the expansion of health insurance support for pregnancy and childbirth medical expenses, in accordance with the 4th Basic Plan for Low Fertility and Aging Society, will be helpful to many pregnant women."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.