Key facts
- China's basic medical insurance system has seen a significant decline in enrollment over the past seven years.
- Researchers propose waiving or reducing premiums for individuals over 60 and those earning less than 60% of the national median income.
- The decline in participation has resulted in a loss of roughly 83 million rural and nonworking urban resident enrollees between 2019 and 2025.
China's basic medical insurance system has experienced a substantial decrease in participation, with tens of millions of enrollees leaving over the past seven years. This trend has prompted researchers to advocate for significant policy changes to reinforce the country's social safety net.
A new study from the Global Health Research Center at Duke Kunshan University suggests implementing premium subsidies for elderly and low-income populations. Specifically, the study recommends waiving or reducing premiums for residents aged over 60 and those whose earnings fall below 60% of the national median income.