Incheon's Jeomulpo-gu district is expanding its postpartum care subsidy program to cover the entire district, aiming to ease the financial burden on families with newborns.
The district office announced Friday that it would extend the postpartum care support program — previously limited to the former Dong-gu area — to include the inland areas of the former Jung-gu, making all families with newborns in Jeomulpo-gu eligible for benefits.
The move aims to unify childbirth and public health welfare benefits that had varied by area following an administrative reorganization, reducing disparities among residents.
The subsidy covers up to 1 million won ($718) per mother. Mothers must first pay out of pocket for eligible postpartum expenses — including fees at postpartum care centers, medical treatment costs for postnatal recovery and exercise classes — then submit supporting documents to receive a cash reimbursement from the local public health center.
To qualify, a mother must have maintained resident registration in Jeomulpo-gu for at least six months from the date of birth through the date of application, and must have registered the newborn's birth within the district.
Residency history prior to the administrative reorganization will also be recognized. Time spent in either the former inland Jung-gu area or the former Dong-gu counts retroactively toward the six-month residency requirement.
Mothers who had not yet completed six months of residency at the time of birth may apply once that threshold is met. Applications must be submitted within one year of the birth date.
The district said it expects the expanded program to offset some of the costs mothers face immediately after giving birth, easing the financial strain on households while improving equity in childbirth and public health welfare services across the district.
Applications can be submitted in person at the maternal and child health division of the Jeomulpo-gu Public Health Center.
gilbert@heraldcorp.com
