Hangzhou introduces medical policy to support impoverished families

In Zhejiang province, Hangzhou will launch a new policy in 2024 to assist impoverished families with their medical expenses.

According to a press conference on Friday, the Hangzhou authorities introduced the maximum medical burden limit policy for families in need, which will be implemented in 2024. The Hangzhou Municipal Healthcare Security Administration and other departments established the policy.

According to the policy, after receiving insurance settlements, such as basic medical insurance, serious illness insurance, medical assistance, policy-based commercial insurance, and other medical subsidies, families that the civil affairs department identifies as families in need of social assistance services will enjoy full coverage for the medical expenses over the limit.

Different family conditions set the three limit standards, which are 3,000 yuan ($419), 30,000 yuan, and 50,000 yuan.

The families in need include individuals enrolled in the country's basic medical insurance with valid certificates issued by Hangzhou's civil affairs department.

According to the Hangzhou Municipal Healthcare Security Administration, the security guarantees for families are based on the implementation of a fund initiative related to medical expenses.

District and county-level governments in the city must establish a fund to assist families in need in capping their reasonable medical expenses. The size of the fund is to be determined based on the number of families in need and the occurrence of medical costs in each area.

The fund will be raised through financial subsidies, which will be at most one-third of the total, insurance companies, and social donations. The fund management will be entrusted to public welfare organizations and social organizations, including the Red Cross and charity federations.