Universal health coverage in China: who is covered, according to official reports
Published
A Xinhua report on the gov.cn English site, updated August 26, 2025, says basic medical insurance for rural residents and non-working urban residents is funded through a combination of individual contributions and government subsidies, while that for urban employees is jointly financed by individuals and their employers.
The report says together, these form the two pillars of China's public healthcare security framework.
Who is covered
A Xinhua report on the gov.cn English site, updated March 16, 2026, says that as of the end of 2025, over 1.33 billion people were covered by China's basic medical insurance, with the coverage rate remaining stable at around 95 percent.
That report says enrollment rose by 4.06 million year on year, according to data from China's National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA).
The NHSA's 2025 statistical bulletin says that at the end of 2025, 133069.39万 people were enrolled in basic medical insurance and the enrolment rate held at 95 percent. Here 万 means ten thousand.
The bulletin says employee medical insurance (职工医保) had 38856.12万 people enrolled at the end of 2025.
The bulletin says urban and rural resident basic medical insurance (城乡居民基本医疗保险) had 94213.27万 people enrolled at the end of 2025.
Maternity and long-term care insurance
The bulletin says that in 2025, 25958.05万 people took part in maternity insurance.
The bulletin says long-term care insurance had 30854.76万 people enrolled in 2025, and 192.91万 people received benefits.
Lower-income groups and medical assistance
A Xinhua report on the gov.cn English site, updated March 16, 2026, says that in rural areas, over 99 percent of the low-income population and those lifted out of poverty are now covered by medical insurance in China, said the NHSA.
A Xinhua report on the gov.cn English site, updated July 25, 2025, says medical assistance schemes cover approximately 80 million people in China each year, helping to ensure that they can benefit from the insurance program.
The bulletin says total medical assistance in 2025 was 794.24亿 yuan, and the assistance fund helped 7666.47万 people join basic medical insurance. Here 亿 means one hundred million.
How enrolment has been eased
A Xinhua report on the gov.cn English site, updated August 26, 2025, says new parents in China can enroll their newborns in the country's basic health insurance with just a birth certificate.
The report says the NHSA introduced new policies enabling flexible employees to enroll in medical insurance based on their residence or workplace, rather than the location of their household registration.
The report says insured individuals can now use funds in their medical insurance accounts to pay for the medical expenses of their close relatives, which include spouses, parents, and children.
Fund totals and what the schemes cover
A Xinhua report on the gov.cn English site, updated March 16, 2026, says the basic medical insurance fund, including maternity insurance, recorded nearly 3.59 trillion yuan in revenue and three trillion yuan in expenditure in 2025.
The bulletin says the 2025 national catalogue of drugs for basic medical, work-injury and maternity insurance lists 3253 Western and Chinese patent medicines, of which 1857 are Western medicines and 1396 are Chinese patent medicines.
The bulletin says the direct settlement rate for hospitalisation costs across provinces has reached 90 percent.
Questions people ask
What share of people are enrolled in basic medical insurance?
A Xinhua report on the gov.cn English site, updated March 16, 2026, says that as of the end of 2025, over 1.33 billion people were covered by China's basic medical insurance, with the coverage rate remaining stable at around 95 percent.
How are the two main schemes funded?
A Xinhua report on the gov.cn English site, updated August 26, 2025, says basic medical insurance for rural residents and non-working urban residents is funded through a combination of individual contributions and government subsidies, while that for urban employees is jointly financed by individuals and their employers.
Sources
- Expanded coverage, enhanced medical insurance services weave stronger safety net (gov.cn English site, Xinhua), read 26 October 2026
- China's basic medical insurance covers 1.33 bln people (gov.cn English site, Xinhua), read 26 October 2026
- Broader, improved medical coverage for a healthier country (gov.cn English site, Xinhua), read 26 October 2026
- 2025 National Healthcare Security Statistical Bulletin (National Healthcare Security Administration, Chinese-language), read 26 October 2026
Each source above was read on the date shown. This page is an unofficial summary of general information. It is not published by the bodies named above and is not medical advice. If it differs from their own pages, their own pages prevail, and details may change after the check date.
Details come from the hospital’s own English or bilingual page as read on the dates shown in each source note; this is an unofficial summary, not medical advice, and may have changed since. Medical and legal notice.