I understand that each prefecture is different and each of the hospitals are different and each of the methods of having a baby wether it’s natural or C Section all add to the cost , but can someone tell me the process from your partner going to the hospital and payments and down payments and hospital fees just as a general overview.
I’ve searched for things online but I’d like to hear from someone who’s been through the process. I was told the insurance usually covers part of the hospital payment and on the day of release you just have to pay the difference. Is this right or do you get the insurance payment later on?
Just want to try and break it down for myself and my wife.
Thanks in advance if I don’t reply to your comment.
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We had a preplanned induction with epidural in a clinic with private room, nice food etc. After the money back from the govt. we paid about 100k out of pocket. Luckily company health insurance had a clause which gave an extra 200k on top of the 400k or so the govt gives so we actually ‘made’ 100k on having a baby
https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/t96475/cost_breakdown_of_my_wifes_delivery_%E6%84%9B%E8%82%B2%E7%97%85%E9%99%A2_with/
https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/31s93y/having_a_baby_in_japan/
Believe it or not this has not changed significantly since we had our first in Japan 19 years ago.
It’s going to cost about 500,000jpy. If you have to have a c-section (for medical reasons) the delivery is covered otherwise it is not covered by NHI. You’ll need to go to the local city hall and register the pregnancy once it’s confirmed. You’ll get coupons to pay for your visits (there will be a LOT more than you’re probably used to – they’ll do things like ultrasounds all the time – I greatly prefer the Japanese system having gone through both the Japanese and US maternity/birthing systems).
Your wife and baby will be staying in the hospital for a week. If you can’t pay out of pocket for the delivery talk to the city they’ll again give you coupons. After the birth you’ll go back to the city and they’ll basically pay you enough to completely cover the cost of having the baby.
While there might be some out of pocket and expenses you have to wait to get reimbursed unless you decide to have a voluntary c-section or something similar the net cost of having a baby in Japan including the pre-natal stuff should be 0.
If there are medical complications your NHI will kick in and you won’t have to worry about them (which is why an emergency or mother needs one C-section is covered but a voluntary C-section is not).
Not my partner, I was the one who gave birth but this was my case:
Went into natural labor full term but baby wasn’t descending so I had an emergency c-section. Because it wasn’t planned and it was life threatening, insurance kicked it and covered 70% of the C-section (Total was about 820k including recovery). Then the 420,000 I got from my insurance covered the rest and about 100k was left over so I got a 100k “prize” lol. Also my child was born during corona so I got another 100k from my city.