Your health insurance pays¥500,000 per child when you give birth
Official name
Lump-sum childbirth allowance — Kyokai Kenpo (出産育児一時金)
If you (or your dependent spouse) are insured under Kyokai Kenpo (Japan Health Insurance Association — the most common employee-based insurance in Japan) and give birth, your insurance pays ¥500,000 per child.
The standard process is the "direct-pay" system (直接支払制度): the hospital bills your insurance directly for the ¥500,000, so you only pay the remainder out of pocket at discharge. If your delivery costs less than ¥500,000, the difference is later transferred to your bank account.PER CHILD
500,000JPY
For births on or after April 1, 2023, at hospitals enrolled in the Obstetric Compensation System (most hospitals in Tokyo) and with a gestation of 22+ weeks. Earlier than 22 weeks, or non-enrolled hospitals: ¥488,000. Multiple births: per-child amount × number of children.
ELIGIBILITY
Who can claim this
Anyone covered by Kyokai Kenpo as the insured person or as their spouse/dependent.
As the insured employee
You are paying Kyokai Kenpo through your job (your monthly salary slip shows 健康保険料 deductions). The lump sum applies to your own birth.
As a dependent spouse
Your spouse is the insured employee, and you are registered as their dependent (扶養者) under Kyokai Kenpo. You receive the same ¥500,000 — called "family lump-sum childbirth allowance" (家族出産育児一時金).
No income cap, no residency requirement (within Japan)
Anyone covered by Kyokai Kenpo can claim. There is no household income limit. The benefit is paid regardless of nationality, as long as you are properly enrolled in the insurance.
HOW IT WORKS
The direct-pay system (default flow)
Most hospitals in Japan have switched to the direct-pay system. You usually do not need to file the ¥500,000 claim yourself.
BEFORE BIRTH
Show your health insurance card at the hospital
Confirms you are enrolled in Kyokai Kenpo. The hospital uses this for billing.
STEP 1
Sign the "direct-pay agreement" (直接支払制度同意書)
Provided by the hospital, usually at admission or before discharge. By signing, the ¥500,000 flows directly from your insurance to the hospital.
STEP 2
Give birth, then pay only the difference at checkout
If hospital bill = ¥800,000, you pay ¥800,000 − ¥500,000 = ¥300,000. If bill is less than ¥500,000 (e.g. ¥450,000), you pay nothing now; the ¥50,000 difference is transferred later.
STEP 3 (only if balance owed to you)
File a balance claim with Kyokai Kenpo
If your delivery cost less than ¥500,000, submit a "balance claim form" (出産育児一時金内払金支払依頼書) to Kyokai Kenpo. Funds typically arrive 1–2 months after submission.
Alternative: post-payment claim (事後申請).
If the hospital does not offer direct-pay, or if you give birth overseas, pay in full first and then claim the ¥500,000 from Kyokai Kenpo within 2 years of delivery (Article 193 of the Health Insurance Act). Overseas births require additional documents (translation of the certificate of birth, passport copy, etc.).
FAQ
Common questions
What if I have twins or triplets?
Per-child amount × number of children. Twins = ¥1,000,000. Triplets = ¥1,500,000. Multiple births at hospitals not enrolled in the Obstetric Compensation System or before 22 weeks: ¥488,000 × number of children.
What about miscarriage or stillbirth?
Miscarriage or stillbirth at 22 weeks or later is also eligible for the same ¥500,000 (and ¥488,000 if the hospital is non-enrolled). Earlier than 22 weeks, the amount is ¥488,000 (the base figure under the Health Insurance Act施行令第36条).
My partner is on Kyokai Kenpo and I'm a dependent — who claims it?
The insured spouse (your partner) is the formal claimant, but the funds and the direct-pay system work the same way. The benefit is called "family lump-sum childbirth allowance" (家族出産育児一時金) but the amount is identical.
How does this combine with the Minato birth-cost subsidy?
They stack. Kyokai Kenpo pays ¥500,000 first; if your hospital bill exceeds that, the Minato Ward birth-cost subsidy can cover up to ¥310,000 more (singletons). With both, most births in Tokyo are largely covered.
Application deadline?
For post-payment claims: 2 years from the day after delivery (Article 193 of the Health Insurance Act). With direct-pay, the deadline is irrelevant since the hospital handles billing at discharge.
SOURCES
Official sources (in Japanese)
For authoritative answers, please consult Kyokai Kenpo or the e-Gov law database.
Kyokai Kenpo (Japan Health Insurance Association)
Lump-sum childbirth allowance (出産育児一時金)
kyoukaikenpo.or.jp/benefit/childbirth/002
e-Gov Law Database
Health Insurance Act Enforcement Order, Article 36 (lump-sum amount)
laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/215IO0000000243
e-Gov Law Database
Health Insurance Act, Article 193 (2-year statute of limitations)
laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/211AC0000000070
Japanese version on this site
出産育児一時金(協会けんぽ)
minato-kosodate.com/prototype/...