Support plan set to alleviate medical burden

Li says China has been 'trailblazer' in provision of basic health insurance

China will establish a general support mechanism for covering outpatient medical bills under the employee basic medical insurance system and broaden the use of funds in individual accounts, in order to ease people's medical burden, the State Council's executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Wednesday.

General outpatient medical expenses related to some chronic and rare diseases, as well as frequently occurring diseases and common illnesses, which incur severe damage to health and heavy costs, will be covered by the unified accounts in a step-by-step manner.

The reimbursement ratio will start from 50 percent and will be tilted in favor of retirees as appropriate. Insurance benefits will be gradually raised as the capacity of the unified accounts increases.