China aims for 'cost-free childbirth' in the face of an aging population.

Beijing [China], December 15: China will expand its national health insurance program from 2026 to cover all costs associated with childbirth, the latest effort to address its worsening demographic crisis.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the plan was announced at the National Health Security Conference held in Beijing on December 13. Zhang Ke, Director of China's National Health Security Administration, said that expanding maternity insurance would be central to an overall initiative aimed at reducing the financial burden on families wishing to have children.
"We will reasonably improve the reimbursement rates for prenatal medical services, striving to implement a nationwide program of zero cost for childbirth," said Zhang.
The plan also includes increasing reimbursement for routine prenatal checkups and adding appropriate pain medication for childbirth to the insurance coverage list.
Initially, seven provinces, including Jilin, Jiangsu, and Shandong, will be selected as pilot areas before nationwide implementation. Currently, China's maternity subsidy program covers approximately 255 million people.
Chinese officials have pledged to continue expanding the scope of beneficiaries, including self-employed individuals, migrant workers, and flexible workers - groups often outside the social welfare system.
This policy aligns with the directions outlined in China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which emphasizes reducing the costs of childbirth, child-rearing, and education through subsidies and tax incentives, according to the South China Morning Post .
Experts believe China is facing a rapidly aging population . The number of births annually has decreased from over 21 million in 1992 to approximately 9 million in 2023 - the lowest level since 1949. The country's population also declined for the third consecutive year in 2024.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper