According to an announcement issued by China’s National Healthcare Security Administration, starting from 2025, farmers participating in the New Rural Cooperative Medical Insurance (NRCMI) will only be allowed to seek medical treatment at county-level or lower-tier hospitals, and medical expense reimbursements will also be limited to these healthcare institutions. The Chinese government stated that this policy is “a major initiative to improve the grassroots healthcare system at the lower levels.”
Under this new regulation, farmers will be eligible for reimbursements if they receive treatment at county-level or lower-tier hospitals. However, if they choose to seek treatment at provincial or higher-level hospitals, their medical expenses will no longer be covered.
Some farmers have expressed concerns that county-level hospitals have limited medical expertise and equipment, making it difficult to treat complex diseases. They feel that this is a “downgrade” of the medical insurance service and that it is unfair to them.
Source: Radio Free Asia, March 13, 2025
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shehui/2025/03/13/china-farmers-medicalinsurance-coverage-deduce/