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All pregnant women will receive W200,000 as a government subsidy for prenatal medical expenses, including ultrasound tests (US$1=W1,084). The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs on Wednesday issued notice on a revision bill of the enforcement ordinance of the National Health Insurance Act that would go into effect no sooner than December.
According to the revision, the ministry will give each pregnant woman an electronic gift card or voucher worth W200,000, or up to W40,000 for each prenatal test such as an ultrasound test or an amniotic fluid test.
According to the National Health Insurance Corporation, the average amount of medical expenses for pregnancy and childbirth is W1.7 million for natural childbirth, but W2.29 million for a Caesarean, with W700,000 of this amount being spent on prenatal treatment. Since most prenatal expenses are not covered by health insurance, each pregnant woman has to pay about W490,000 for such treatment.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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