China realizes direct childbirth subsidy payments to individuals in 13 provinces and regions

China has enabled the direct distribution of childbirth subsidies to individuals in all social insurance pooling areas across 13 provinces and regions as of June 12, contributing to the creation of a childbirth-friendly society, the National Healthcare Security Administration said on Wednesday.

The 13 regions include North China's Shanxi Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Shanghai, East China's Fujian Province.

Southwest China's Yunnan Province recently issued an official notice  stating that it will fully implement direct childbirth subsidy payments to individuals province-wide by the end of July. 

Overall, nearly 60 percent of social insurance pooling areas nationwide have achieved direct payments to individuals, the administration said.

Previously, childbirth subsidies were typically disbursed by medical insurance agencies to employers, who then paid the benefits to the employees. With the administration encouraging qualified regions to directly distribute childbirth subsidies to insured female workers, more women are now able to access these benefits more conveniently and quickly, Xinhua Net reported.

For example, starting December 1, 2024, Zhengzhou in Central China's Henan Province adjusted its childbirth subsidy policy to provide a one-time direct payment to the bank accounts of insured female workers. By February 2025, 2,330 women had received a total of 28.8 million yuan ($4.05 million) in childbirth subsidies, according to the report.

Similarly, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality began directly paying childbirth subsidies to individuals from January 1, 2025, with over 20,575 women receiving more than 257 million yuan in the first two months. Zhuzhou in Central China's Hunan Province optimized its payment method from February 1 this year, enabling 376 women to benefit from direct payments that month, according to the Xinhua Net.

The National Healthcare Security Administration stated that directly distributing childbirth subsidies to individuals helps women experience the benefits of medical insurance more promptly and enhances their sense of well-being, while better safeguarding the rights of female employees during maternity leave.