Abolition of Income Criteria for Maternal and Child Health Support Project in Gangnam-gu

Abolish Support Restrictions for Households Below 180% of Median Income
Expand Support for 5 Projects Including High-Risk Pregnant Women Medical Expenses
Increase Beneficiaries... Budget Raised by 2.7 Billion to 7.5 Billion Won

Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) has completely abolished the income criteria for five maternal and child health support projects since January this year: ▲medical expenses for high-risk pregnant women ▲medical expenses for premature and congenital anomaly infants ▲support for congenital hearing screening and hearing aids ▲management tests for congenital metabolic disorder patients ▲and detailed developmental examinations for infants and young children.

To address the serious low birthrate issue, following the removal of income criteria (180% of median income) for infertility treatment support in July last year, the income criteria for maternal and child health projects have been largely eliminated this year, expanding the eligible recipients.

Including these expansions, the district will invest 7.5 billion KRW in 23 maternal and child health projects this year, an increase of 2.7 billion KRW compared to the previous year.

With the rise in marriage age and the increase in multiple births due to assisted reproductive technologies, the number of high-risk newborns is increasing annually. Starting this year, pregnant women hospitalized for 19 major high-risk pregnancy conditions such as preterm labor, diabetes, and multiple pregnancies can receive up to 3 million KRW per person for inpatient treatment costs. Previously, medical expenses were supported only for households with income below 180% of the median income, but this restriction has been removed. Ninety percent of the inpatient treatment costs, including co-payments and non-reimbursable medical fees, will be supported, and applications must be submitted to the public health center within six months from the delivery date.

Support for medical expenses for premature and congenital anomaly infants has also been expanded. Previously, support was provided only to households with income below 180% of the median income, but from this year, support is available regardless of income. Up to 10 million KRW is provided for inpatient treatment costs for one premature infant born before 37 weeks of gestation and weighing less than 2.5 kg, and up to 5 million KRW for congenital anomaly infants. The support period for medical expenses for congenital anomaly infants has been extended from a maximum of 16 months to 24 months.

Additionally, up to 70,000 KRW is provided for congenital hearing screening and confirmatory tests, and hearing aids are supported for children under five years old, up to two devices (with a limit of 1.35 million KRW per device). For congenital metabolic disorder patients, outpatient screening test co-payments and diagnostic test costs are supported up to 70,000 KRW.

The income criteria for detailed developmental examination fees for infants and young children have also been removed. Previously, support was provided only to households with income below 80% of the median income for infants and young children who were recommended for in-depth evaluation in six core developmental areas (gross motor skills, fine motor skills, cognition, language, social skills, and self-help) during health checkups. From this year, all eligible children can receive support. The support covers examination and consultation fees required for detailed tests, with a maximum of 200,000 KRW for general health insurance subscribers and up to 400,000 KRW for basic livelihood security recipients and near-poverty groups.

Jo Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, “According to the resident registration population survey announced by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 10th, Gangnam-gu ranked first among 226 cities, counties, and districts with a 280-person (13.53%) increase in birth registrations compared to 2022.” He added, “This reflects the results of various support projects such as increased childbirth encouragement subsidies and expanded infertility support programs.” He continued, “We will continue to strengthen childbirth encouragement support to make Gangnam-gu a great place to have and raise children.”