Challenges and suggestions for healthcare insurance of internal migrants in China

Abstract

With its rapid social and economic development, China?s medical and healthcare services are also continually evolving. At present, China?s medical and healthcare field mainly comprises two aspects: service institutions and insurance systems. Healthcare insurance refers to the basic security system that provides medical services to the population and pays part of their remedial expenses by rationally organising financial resources. It is not only a safety net but also a social stabiliser for the population. It is also an important part of China?s medical and healthcare reform. Internal migrants are those who do not belong to the household registration system within a city?s jurisdiction and constantly move between districts. They primarily include temporary residents, people in transit and registered tourists. The main purpose of healthcare insurance is to meet the needs for medical funds in line with the current level of economic development. In short, it is a basic security system that grants people access to a doctor, regardless of their income. However, since internal migrants move between districts, it can be difficult to guarantee their healthcare insurance. Healthcare service needs of the internal floating population are constantly growing, but the coverage of remedial services provided by medical insurance is still not comprehensive, and the guarantee is not sufficient. We should solve the medical security problem of the internal floating population by improving the measures of transferring medical insurance, implementing a more reasonable medical insurance system for employees, lowering the threshold for participation and expanding the scope of assistance.