The Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance: a landmark reform towards universal coverage in China

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The Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance: a landmark reform towards universal coverage in China

Author Info

Wanchuan Lin (Guanghua School of Management, Peking University, Beijing, China)
Gordon G. Liu (Guanghua School of Management, Peking University, Beijing, China)
Gang Chen (China Center for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, Peking University, Beijing, China)

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Gang Chen

Abstract

As the latest government effort to reform China's health care system, Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance (URBMI) was piloted in seventy-nine cities during the summer of 2007, following State Council Policy Document 2007 No. 20's guidelines. This study presents the first economic analysis of URBMI, following a national household survey in nine representative Chinese cities. The survey aimed to answer three questions: Who is covered by the plan? Who gains from the plan? Who is most satisfied with the plan? We have found that there is a U-shaped relationship between URBMI participation rate and income. That is, the extremely rich or poor are the most likely to participate. Those with any inpatient treatment last year or with any chronic disease are also more likely to enroll in URBMI, indicating adverse selection into participation. We have also found that in reducing financial barriers to care, URBMI most significantly benefits the poor and those with previous inpatient care. Finally, those participants in the bottom 20% of family incomes are happier with URBMI than are their more affluent counterparts. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Article provided by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. in its journal Health Economics.

Volume (Year): 18 (2009)
Issue (Month): S2 ()
Pages: S83-S96
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Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:18:y:2009:i:s2:p:s83-s96

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Web page: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/5749

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David Cutler & Richard Zeckhauser, 1998. "Adverse Selection in Health Insurance," Forum for Health Economics & Policy, Berkeley Electronic Press, vol. 1(1), pages 1056-1056. [Downloadable!] (restricted)

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Winnie Yip & Adam Wagstaff & William C. Hsiao, 2009. "Economic analysis of China's health care system: turning a new page," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(S2), pages S3-S6. [Downloadable!]

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This page was last updated on 2009-11-16.

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