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China to Cover 'Out-of-Pocket Expenses' for Childbirth From 2026
China’s national healthcare insurance will fully reimburse childbirth-related medical costs from 2026 to ease financial burdens amid declining birth rates, officials said.
- Next year, China will expand its national healthcare insurance to fully cover childbirth costs, the NHSA said, aiming to incentivize more young couples to have children.
- Demographers say falling birth rates and a shrinking workforce prompted the pledge, as high childcare costs, job uncertainty and the one-child policy discourage many young couples.
- Unveiled at a national healthcare security conference in Beijing on Saturday, the pledge builds on local pilots in Jilin, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces and includes efforts to `improve the level of prenatal medical expense coverage` and add `appropriate labour analgesia items`, NHSA director Zhang Ke said.
- As an immediate complement, the insurance change sits alongside childcare subsidies and free preschool education, building on past efforts including expanded maternity leave and financial incentives by Chinese central authorities.
- China's population dropped in 2022 and continued sliding through 2024, which demographers warn will pressure local finances and could ease childbirth costs, influencing birth decisions.
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China to cover 'out-of-pocket expenses' for childbirth from 2026
HONG KONG: China will cover all out-of-pocket expenses related to childbirth next year, said the country's national healthcare security administration, as authorities try to incentivise more young couples to have children.By 2026, China will aim to offer nationwide full reimbursement for all policy-covered me
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources17
Leaning Left3Leaning Right4Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Right
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Right
40% Right
L 30%
C 30%
R 40%
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