According to a circular issued on Monday by the Beijing Labor
and Social Security Bureau, starting from April 1, retired people
who are covered by basic medical insurance will benefit from a
uniform supplementary medical insurance. The new scheme excludes
those who are already covered by the civil servant medical subsidy
system.
The supplementary insurance, financed by the government, will
help individuals pay the balance 50 percent of medical fees that
are currently not covered by basic medical insurance schemes.
1.55 million retired people are expected to benefit from the new
policy.
Different enterprises have their own regulations on
supplementary medical insurance: some offer a percentage higher
than the unified 50 percent and some lower. Further, some
enterprises do not offer supplementary medical insurance. But since
April 1 all retirees will benefit from the program irrespective of
the insurance schemes provided by their employers, according to
Wang Dexiu, vice director of the bureau.
Wang added that the new policy will not mean lower levels of
medical treatment.
When the unified insurance scheme comes into effect in April,
this will mean a stop to any supplementary insurance program
offered by employers. However, there are a few exceptions.
Enterprises that offer a higher percentage will still have to
reimburse their employees for the portion that exceeds the unified
50 percent. Enterprises' supplementary medical insurance will still
have to cover those in need of constant medical treatment, veteran
workers and model workers who took part in the revolutionary cause
before the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, and
those retirees who have heavy medical expenses and who qualify for
assistance.
For those who are discharged from hospital or file their
outpatient treatment fees before March 31, subsidies will be based
on previous regulations.
Also starting from April, retirees aged 70 and above will
receive a fixed amount of 110 yuan every month, and those below 70
will receive 100 yuan every month.
(China.org.cn by Yuan Fang, January 26,
2006)