Mapo-gu Haetbit Center Expands Support for Pregnancy and Childbirth Medical Expenses... No Income Criteria

District, high-risk pregnant women, premature infants, and congenital anomaly medical expenses income criteria fully abolished... Mapo-gu Haetbit Center expands new education programs such as pregnancy preparation classes for couples and prenatal yoga

Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) will completely abolish income criteria for medical expenses support for high-risk pregnant women, premature and congenital anomaly infants, as well as screening costs for congenital hearing loss and metabolic disorders starting this year, while expanding the operation of the Sunlight Center’s health classes for pregnant women and infants.

This measure actively reflects the recent serious low birthrate issue, increasing advanced maternal age pregnancies, and infertility. Previously, medical expenses were only supported for households with income below 180% of the median income.

From this year, pregnant women hospitalized due to 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.

Support covers up to 90% of the full out-of-pocket expenses and non-reimbursable medical fees, and applications can be made at the Mapo-gu Public Health Center Sunlight Center within six months from the delivery date.

Medical expense support for premature infants (less than 37 weeks gestation, under 2.5 kg) and infants with congenital anomalies is also available regardless of income criteria. Support for premature infants can be up to 10 million KRW, and for congenital anomaly infants up to 5 million KRW.

Additionally, the full cost of congenital metabolic disorder screening tests and up to 70,000 KRW for confirmatory tests are supported, and hearing aids are supported for up to two devices (with a limit of 1.35 million KRW per device) for infants under five years old.

Benefits for newborns have also been expanded. The first meeting voucher, which provides 2 million KRW to all newborns, will increase to 3 million KRW for second-born and subsequent children.

Furthermore, from January 1, 2024, multiple births will be automatically enrolled in the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Multiple Birth Safety Insurance for two years from the birth date, guaranteeing up to 30 million KRW coverage for 17 items including emergency room visits, fracture and burn surgeries, and hospitalization costs for injury or illness treatment.

The ‘Sunlight Center,’ opened in July last year by Mapo-gu, offers various health services linking all processes of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting, as well as health classes for pregnant women and infants.

Last year, a total of 5,373 pregnant women registered for health management, with health management provided for 1,147 mothers and newborns, 4,417 home nursing visits to childbirth families, and 484 cases of various medical expense support.

Especially from February this year, new classes for couples preparing for pregnancy and prenatal yoga classes for pregnant women will be newly opened. In addition, existing Saturday classes for prospective parents and nutrition education for pregnant women and infants will be further expanded this year to encourage more residents to participate.

Details of the maternal and child health support projects changing in 2024 can be found on the Mapo-gu Public Health Center website or by contacting Health Companion and the Sunlight Center.

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “The fundamental solution to overcoming the serious low birthrate problem lies in the belief and practical role-sharing that local governments accompany from pregnancy preparation to childbirth and childcare,” adding, “We will do our best to operate the Mapo-gu Sunlight Center so that all prospective couples, pregnant women, and families can enjoy warm and convenient health services.”