Consolidating the social health insurance schemes in China: towards an equitable and efficient health system

Fragmentation in social health insurance schemes is an important factor for inequitable access to health care and financial protection for people covered by different health insurance schemes in China. To fulfil its commitment of universal health coverage by 2020, the Chinese Government needs to pri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 386; no. 10002; pp. 1484 - 1492
Main Authors: Meng, Qingyue, Fang, Hai, Liu, Xiaoyun, Yuan, Beibei, Xu, Jin
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Elsevier Ltd 10.10.2015
Elsevier Limited
Subjects:
China
Government Programs - economics
Government Programs - trends
Health care access
Health care policy
Health Care Reform - economics
Health Care Reform - trends
Health insurance
Health Services Accessibility - economics
Health Services Accessibility - trends
Health Status Disparities
Healthcare Disparities - economics
Healthcare Disparities - trends
Healthcare Financing
Humans
Insurance, Health - economics
Insurance, Health - organization & administration
Insurance, Health - trends
Internal Medicine
National health insurance
Rural Health - economics
Rural Health - trends
Universal Coverage - economics
Universal Coverage - trends
Urban Health - economics
Urban Health - trends
China
ISSN:0140-6736, 1474-547X, 1474-547X
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Fragmentation in social health insurance schemes is an important factor for inequitable access to health care and financial protection for people covered by different health insurance schemes in China. To fulfil its commitment of universal health coverage by 2020, the Chinese Government needs to prioritise addressing this issue. After analysing the situation of fragmentation, this Review summarises efforts to consolidate health insurance schemes both in China and internationally. Rural migrants, elderly people, and those with non-communicable diseases in China will greatly benefit from consolidation of the existing health insurance schemes with extended funding pools, thereby narrowing the disparities among health insurance schemes in fund level and benefit package. Political commitments, institutional innovations, and a feasible implementation plan are the major elements needed for success in consolidation. Achievement of universal health coverage in China needs systemic strategies including consolidation of the social health insurance schemes.
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ISSN:0140-6736
1474-547X
1474-547X
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00342-6