China has taken a significant step in enhancing its healthcare system by further reforming its health insurance program. As of December 9, the reform allows eligible holders of employee health insurance to link their personal accounts with those of close relatives through online platforms.
The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) announced that this initiative has been extended to all provincial regions in China, marking a nationwide effort to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for families.
Under the new program, employees can share their health insurance funds with close relatives, including siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. This follows earlier expansions in 2021, which included spouses, parents, and children.
Data from the NHSA reveals impressive uptake, with approximately 325 million instances of shared account use recorded between January and November 2024. Financially, around 34.31 billion yuan (about $4.77 billion) has been utilized for medical expenses at designated healthcare institutions, alongside substantial amounts allocated for retail pharmacies and various other purposes.
All provincial regions have implemented the sharing of employee health insurance accounts within their areas, with the cross-provincial sharing feature expected to be fully operational by 2025. This advancement aims to significantly reduce family healthcare costs, enhance resilience against medical risks, and enable efficient management of medical funds across different provinces.
\"Cross-provincial sharing involves over 300 million employees and nearly 1 billion residents covered by health insurance, making it a large-scale reform,\" said Huang Huabo, deputy director of the NHSA. \"This program is expected to be fully operational by 2025, ensuring more sustainable and accessible healthcare for all.\"
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
