BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers on Tuesday began reviewing a draft healthcare security law that includes provisions on long-term care insurance, aiming to further protect the rights and interests of insured individuals.
The draft is now under its third reading at the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, which runs through Friday.
Following its second reading in April and a period of public consultation, the draft adds provisions stipulating that the country shall establish and improve a long-term care insurance system.
It also stipulates that the relevant authorities under the State Council shall formulate specific measures for the financing, benefits, fund use, and supervision of long-term care insurance, with reference to provisions on basic medical insurance.
Long-term care insurance is a social insurance program that provides services or financial support for basic daily care and related medical nursing for people who have lost some or all of their ability to care for themselves. By the end of 2025, this insurance had covered 308.55 million people, with 1.93 million benefiting from it.
The scheme is a priority in the country's five-year plan to improve medical security as China's population ages. At the end of 2025, the country had 323.38 million people aged 60 or above, accounting for 23 percent of its population. The figure is projected to exceed 400 million around 2035.
The draft also adds provisions to better protect people facing financial difficulties and other vulnerable groups, helping cover their individual contributions under the basic medical insurance for rural and non-working urban residents.
It further specifies requirements for settling medical expenses incurred outside the insured person's place of enrollment and strengthens penalties for responsible personnel at designated medical institutions and pharmacies. ■
