Chinese gov't to raise health insurance subsidies
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E-mail Xinhua, February 22, 2012
China will raise government subsidies for health insurance offered to farmers and non-working urbanites to over 360 yuan (57 U.S. dollars) per person per year by 2015, an increase of 80 percent.
The announcement was made after a State Council executive meeting presided over on Wednesday by Premier Wen Jiabao. At the meeting, new healh reform targets were set for the 12th Five-year Plan (2011-2015) period.
China's basic health insurance system includes health insurance for urban employees, jointly paid by governments, employers and individuals; there is also health insurance for non-working urban dwellers and rural cooperative health insurance for rural residents, which is co-paid by governments and individuals.
Major reform targets include the expansion of basic health insurance coverage, perfecting the country's essential medicine system, as well as improving community-level clinics and public hospitals.
China kicked off its health reforms in April 2009, aiming to correct long-standing problems in its health system and ease public grievances.
