Cover Story: China Seeks Cure for Ailing Health System

A long-sought restructuring of one of China’s two national medical insurance programs is racing against the clock as the demands of an aging population drains the fund that provides healthcare for more than 360 million urban residents.

As of early July, all of China’s 31 province-level authorities have revised rules for the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance System, the plan undergoing the changes that were proposed in 2020. The state-backed program is supported by a 3.5 trillion-yuan ($487 billion) fund that is fueled by contributions collected from employers and the monthly salaries of workers.