Everything costs money, even in the world of Pokémon. No money is ever shown being exchanged on-screen, but there are constant talks of what things cost and having to pay for them. However, for some reason, Pokémon Centers never seem to come up in these conversations.
Pokémon Centers are somehow free of charge for Trainers. This reflects how the games don’t charge Trainers to heal their Pokémon, but that still doesn’t explain how it’s possible. In the anime, Trainers even eat and stay the night, like they’re at a bed and breakfast; nobody talks about paying for that, either. Without an explanation, fans have been left to speculate on where Pokémon Centers receive their funding.
Where Does the Pokémon Centers Receive Their Funding?
Some theorize that Pokémon Centers are funded by their local Poké Marts. Trainers will buy all the supplies they need and more to ensure that they’re ready to travel on the road. Some of this money might be sent to the Pokémon Centers so they can keep their business running. This theory gained credence starting in Generation V when the two establishments were merged into one building.
Pokémon Centers might also be backed by the Pokémon League, among other events. All sorts of Pokémon-related events would require Trainers to keep their Pokémon in top condition; Gym battles, League battles, Contests, Showcases, and the island challenge. Then there are all the local, anime-exclusive competitions like the PokéRinger, the Whirl Cup, the Pokémon Ping Pong Tournament, the Club Battle, the World Tournament Junior Cup, and various races. All of these events would need Trainers to visit Pokémon Centers and ensure their Pokémon are ready for what’s to come. If all these events donated just a little of the money they make to their local Pokémon Centers, that would easily make up for all their free treatments.
Pokémon Centers could also get funding just as any health care system would. Besides donations, the funding could come from general taxation to the county or municipality, social health insurance, voluntary or private health insurance, or out-of-pocket payments. If it was general taxation, that would remove the need for an explanation entirely from both the games and the anime. Since the Pokémon world heavily reflects Japanese culture, Pokémon Centers might rely on social health insurance just as Japan does. Alternatively, all Trainers could have a private health insurance plan that allows them to use Pokémon Centers whenever they need to; this responsibility would also explain why there’s a minimum age requirement to be a Trainer in the first place, even if that age is a little young. Out-of-pocket payments are highly unlikely for how big of an operation Pokémon Centers run. For all anyone knows, Pokémon Centers can be kept running due to multiple sources of income besides taking money directly from Trainers.
However Pokémon Centers stay in business, Trainers are probably grateful for the service. The comfort of going to one of these safe havens for them and their Pokémon to rest up seems like an incomparable one. They probably do have to pay for it in some form, but it’s not something they have to trouble themselves with when they walk through the doors.
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