Core Points - The National Healthcare Security Administration reports that nearly 90% of medical insurance pooling areas in China have implemented direct payment of maternity benefits to individuals, enhancing convenience for female employees during maternity leave [1] - Maternity benefits, also known as "maternity leave wages," are crucial for working mothers, as they provide financial support during periods when they cannot work due to childbirth [1][3] - The transition from employer-based payment to direct individual payment aims to reduce the administrative burden on employees and improve access to maternity benefits [1][5] Summary by Sections - **Implementation of Direct Payment** - Over 20 provinces have successfully transitioned to direct payment of maternity benefits to individuals, streamlining the process and eliminating the need for additional documentation such as marriage and birth certificates [7] - The application process for maternity benefits has been simplified, with online "one-stop" services introduced in cities like Zhuzhou, reducing processing time from 20 working days to 10 [5][7] - **Impact on Female Employees** - The direct payment system alleviates the financial strain on working mothers, ensuring they receive timely support during maternity leave without the complications of employer involvement [1][3] - The average maternity benefit per insured female employee is projected to exceed 26,000 yuan in 2024, reflecting the government's commitment to supporting childbirth and family planning [7] - **Insurance Coverage** - As of June this year, the number of individuals covered by maternity insurance has reached 253 million, following the integration of maternity insurance with basic medical insurance since 2019 [5]