China Advances Medical Insurance System Under the 14th Five-Year Plan

China is on the right path to achieving its medical insurance goals outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), as reported by officials on Thursday. They highlighted the development of a comprehensive system focused on equal access and technological advancements, which currently serves 1.3 billion people with a basic medical insurance coverage rate of approximately 95 percent.

From 2021 to 2024, around 20 billion medical visits have been reimbursed through insurance, showing a substantial increase of 1.6 times compared to 2020. Zhang Ke, the director of the National Healthcare Security Administration, mentioned improvements in serious illness insurance, which now supports a unified medical assistance system tailored for patients facing high medical costs, while also aiding poverty alleviation via healthcare.

During this evaluation period, the medical assistance policies have notably aided rural low-income populations, covering 673 million visits and cutting down medical expenses by 650 billion yuan (approximately $91 billion). Li Tao, the deputy director of the administration, noted enhancements in long-term care insurance, which has expanded from 15 cities in 2016 to 49 cities in 2020 and currently serves around 190 million individuals.

This long-term care insurance system is specifically aimed at alleviating the daily care and nursing costs for elderly individuals and those unable to care for themselves. With premiums now covering about 70 percent of care expenses, it has benefited approximately 2 million people, yielding a total reduction in fees of 50 billion yuan during the observed timeframe.

The health administration has also adapted to advancements in medical technology, integrating new services to fill gaps in diagnostics and treatment, accelerating the introduction of innovative technologies. For instance, they have approved artificial cochlear implants and larynxes for patients dealing with hearing and speech difficulties, as well as making progress with brain-computer interface applications.

Additionally, support for innovative medications has skyrocketed since 2021, with insurance fund expenditures increasing to 3.9 times that of 2020, reflecting a remarkable annual growth rate of 40 percent. The government recently introduced a new category of commercial insurance for innovative drugs, enabling reimbursement for newly added treatments, with over 100 medicines already proposed for inclusion into the system.

Zhang emphasized that the United Nations has commended China for its impressive achievements in creating a universal medical insurance system. He also expressed the country’s intention to share its unique healthcare practices and promote traditional Chinese medicine on a global scale.