Eight departments release documents to promote the implementation of the long-term care insurance system

To advance the implementation of a long-term care insurance system, eight departments including the National Healthcare Security Administration, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance jointly issued on March 26 the “Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Establishment of a Long-Term Care Insurance System.” The plan further details aspects such as fund pooling, benefit protection, and management and services. The plan makes clear that at the national level, a long-term care insurance benchmark premium rate system will be established; policies on contribution bases will be standardized, premium rates will be set reasonably, benchmark benefit standards will be clarified, and benchmark adjustments will be carried out dynamically according to the needs of the system’s development. Based on different contribution standards, benefit standards are set in two categories: employed persons and unemployed persons. The plan further specifies the premium rates and methods for unit employees, unemployed urban and rural residents, retirees, flexible employment workers, people facing difficulties, and those under 18 years of age. It also clearly defines protected groups, benchmark benefits, service methods, fund payment, incentive and constraint mechanisms, and policy linkages. The plan requires that, according to progress in implementing the system, performance evaluations of the reforms be conducted, achievements and experience be comprehensively summarized, replicable and scalable results be produced, and steady and positive progress in system building be promoted. (Xinhua News Agency)