Multiple departments issue notice to expand the coverage of basic medical insurance for flexible employment and other groups

Recently, six departments including the National Healthcare Security Administration, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Transport jointly issued a notice to launch a special action to improve the basic medical insurance enrollment for flexible workers, migrant workers, and people in new forms of employment. The plan aims, within about three years, to continuously expand the number of flexible workers and similar groups covered by basic medical insurance, with particular emphasis on increasing enrollment in employee medical insurance. China will promote the removal of household registration restrictions for flexible workers enrolling in basic medical insurance in mega-cities. On the premise of ensuring balance in the medical insurance fund, regions can reasonably determine the payment base for flexible workers' medical insurance by referring to the local employee basic pension insurance payment base. For flexible workers participating in employee medical insurance, the payment period can be accumulated monthly, with every 12 months counted as one year of payment period. According to an official from the National Healthcare Security Administration, since many flexible workers employed outside their home area may pay employee medical insurance intermittently each year, the policy allows for the employee medical insurance payment years to be accumulated monthly, so that fragmented payment periods are all counted toward the total payment years. Those insured who reach the statutory retirement age and meet the prescribed payment years can enjoy retirement medical insurance benefits. For those whose payment years are insufficient, they can make supplementary payments to reach the required years according to the regulations of the relevant pooling area. All regions are encouraged to explore converting consecutive years of resident medical insurance payments into local employee medical insurance payment years, with the specific conversion ratio determined in accordance with local funding levels. (CCTV News)