Medical insurance system for urban residents to be initiated in 2008

A new medical insurance system is expected to cover about 1 million urban residents including minors, college students, landless farmers and people who have reached retirement age but do not receive monthly pensions, said an official of the Guangzhou Medical Insurance Centre. Coupled with the medical insurance policy for migrant workers, a complete medical insurance system would be formed in 2008. Moreover, more categories will be included in designated chronic diseases.

By the end of November 2007, the supplementary medical insurance has covered 1.07 million people, accounting for 42% of the total number of medical insurance holders, announced an official from the Medical Insurance Centre on January 1st.

A considerable number of eligible people did not have supplementary medical insurance, partially due to its non-compulsory nature. In addition, many enterprises in Guangzhou now have a complementary medical insurance system of their own and pay part of the medical expenses for employees. However, with further promotion, supplementary medical insurance holders are expected to be constantly growing.