Shanghai Expands Maternity Insurance Coverage, Raises 4,500 Yuan Medical Subsidy Use to Prenatal Care

Shanghai issued new maternity insurance rules on September 8 that will take effect on October 1, replacing the previous policy. The changes expand coverage for prenatal checkups, hospital delivery costs and maternity medical benefits for unemployed spouses, and Shanghai will also extend protection to maternity medical expenses incurred during out-of-town treatment, according to Jiemian News. Under the new policy, the 4,500 yuan maternity medical subsidy can be used during pregnancy for prenatal examinations instead of being paid only after childbirth. For insured pregnant women in Shanghai, the subsidy can first cover 42 prenatal checkup items included in the maternity insurance basic medical care package; any eligible costs above that amount will be paid by maternity insurance, while other services outside the package will be reimbursed under regular employee medical insurance rules. Shanghai also said policy-covered inpatient delivery expenses will be fully paid by maternity insurance, and the same applies to miscarriages after seven months of pregnancy. The policy also improves benefits for unemployed spouses. If a male employee enrolled in Shanghai maternity insurance has an unemployed spouse who is covered by the city's basic medical insurance and normally receiving benefits, that spouse will receive maternity medical expense treatment at the same standard as insured women. For out-of-town treatment, the service-package costs and policy-covered inpatient delivery expenses will also be paid by Shanghai maternity insurance, with any unused subsidy balance still claimable after childbirth if the total spending is below 4,500 yuan.