东京 — — 日本厚生劳动省已开始讨论一项新福利的细节，该福利将承担分娩费用，以减轻父母的经济负担，最早将从2027财政年度下半年开始实施。
TOKYO -- Japan's health ministry has begun discussing the details of a new benefit that will cover the costs of childbirth to ease the financial burden on parents, starting as soon as the second half of fiscal 2027.
厚生劳动大臣的咨询机构下设的一个小组委员会正在讨论该福利的实施时间及其他细节。
A subcommittee of an advisory body to the minister of health, labor, and welfare is discussing the timing and other details.
去年5月对健康保险法的修订要求该福利必须在2028年6月前到位。当局正在努力提前这一时间表，同时仍保留公众通知期。
A May revision to health insurance law requires the benefit to be in place by June 2028. Authorities are working to move that timeline up while still allowing for a public notice period.
在日本，无并发症的分娩被视为自付费用，不被国家健康保险覆盖，而该国正面临人口下降的问题。剖宫产分娩则是被覆盖的例外情况之一。
Childbirth without complications is considered an out-of-pocket expense not covered by national health insurance in Japan, which is struggling with population decline. Cesarean section births are among exceptions that are covered.
公共保险目前为每个孩子提供50万日元（约合3100美元）的分娩及相关费用补贴，但这一金额有时不足以覆盖大城市的费用。
Public insurance provides a 500,000 yen ($3,100) allowance per child for childbirth and related expenses, but this is sometimes not enough to cover costs in major cities.
根据新福利方案，公共保险将按厚生劳动省设定的统一价格向医疗机构支付费用。该价格尚未确定，但计划是将其设定得高于目前标准分娩的补贴水平。
Under the new benefit, public insurance will pay medical institutions a uniform price set by the health ministry. The price has not been set yet, but the plan is to set it higher than the current allowance for a standard birth.
2023财政年度，日本为77万例分娩发放了补贴，总额达3720亿日元。预计在新制度下这一数字将上升，从而对保险费用造成上行压力。
Japan paid out childbirth allowances for 770,000 births in fiscal 2023, totaling 372 billion yen. That figure is expected to rise under the new system, putting upward pressure on insurance premiums.
日本产科妇科学会认为，目前约有40%的产科诊所在现行补贴制度下处于亏损状态，并呼吁将新的基本报销标准设定为75万日元或更高。但厚生劳动省的许多官员对如此大幅度的增加持谨慎态度。
The Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists argues that roughly 40% of obstetrics clinics operate at a loss under the current allowance system and is calling for the new basic reimbursement rate to be set at 750,000 yen or more. But many health ministry officials are cautious about such a large increase.
除了向医疗机构支付费用外，新福利还将向所有准妈妈提供固定的现金补贴。
In addition to payments to medical institutions, the new benefit would provide a fixed cash payout to all expectant mothers.
剖腹产已经被公共保险覆盖，但通常需要患者自付30%的费用。这笔现金补贴也将通过公共保险筹集资金，有助于减轻患者的负担。政府计划在年底前确定补贴金额。
Cesarean sections are already covered by public insurance but generally require patients to pay 30% of the cost out of pocket. The cash benefit, which would also be funded through public insurance, would help reduce that burden. The government plans to determine the amount by the end of the year.