The Path to Integrated Insurance Systems in China [electronic resource] - Washington, D.C. : The World Bank, 2010. - Policy Notes . - Policy Notes World Bank e-Library. .

Since the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, health care in China has become a leading national concern. Often highlighted by the popular phrase, kan-bing-nan, kan-bing-gui (seeking care is difficult and expensive), healthcare costs can be devastating. Prior to 2007, there were two formal insurance programs: the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) for the urban employed population, and the New Rural Cooperative Medical Insurance (NRCMI) for rural residents. A third major group-urban resident without formal employment-was essentially left out of the state health security system. In July 2007, the State Council initiated a pilot experiment in 79 cities-the Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance (URBMI). The plan targeted urban residents without formal employment, especially the elderly and children (State Council 2007). The present health policy note provides an updated review of healthcare settings and policy reforms, focusing primarily on urban health financing. It discusses urban insurance in the context of universal coverage and how to harmonize insurance schemes across urban and rural areas. This discussion is placed in the context of global experience and emerging principles of best practices.

10.1596/27719


Access to Finance
Access to Health Services
Administrative Costs
Bankruptcy
Capacity Building
Cities
Cost-Effectiveness
Diabetes
Doctors
Economic Development
Employment
Expenditures
Finance and Financial Sector Development
Health Care Costs
Health Economics & Finance
Health Monitoring & Evaluation
Health Policy
Health Professionals
Health Systems Development & Reform
Health, Nutrition and Population
Hospitals
Human Resources
Inflation
Informed Consent
Insurance
Insurance & Risk Mitigation
Medical Savings Accounts
Migrant Workers
Migration
Nutrition
Pharmacies
Physicians
Private Health Insurance
Profitability
Public Health
Purchasing Power
Rural Health Care
Savings
Social Health Insurance
Social Insurance
Unions
Urban Areas
Villages
Workers

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