CCTV9英语新闻：CPPCC members divided on medical insurance fees

Another hot issue is about medical insurance fees. There are proposals on making citizens pay more premiums, as well as letting retirees pay medical insurance. But CPPCC members haven't yet reached a consensus on that.

 

Government's financial support has comprised three-fourths of China's medical fund. Some warn the risk of a pan-welfare trend.

 

Premier Li Keqiang has announced to give an additional forty yuan per month into citizens' medical insurance accounts this year.

 

But there's another document which indicates individuals will be asked to raise their insurance contributions too. But Cai Wei, medical official from Shanghai says the raise will depend on regional conditions. 

 

"It's a trend to raise individual's payment ratio. But the detailed numbers might be announced according to regional economic conditions. The basic rule is the more you pay, the more you get," CPPCC member Cai Wei said.

 

There's another voice to ease insurance burdens.

 

"The fifth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee proposed to adjust the mechanism of collecting medical fund to ensure continuity and adjust the reimbursement ratio. It also proposed to discuss letting retirees pay medical insurance fees. Please notice, this is only to discuss the policy. We'll propose it after collecting public opinions and making analysis," Ministry of Human Resoruces & Social Security spokesman Li Zhong said.

 

This has drawn wide controversies among pensioners and other CPPCC members as well. Some argue it's not fair; some propose instead to let people pay longer years before retirement, just like what's being done now to old-age pensioners. But, in spite of all these, the basic concern is still not to drag down the living standards of retirees.

 

"It must not affect the living standards of retirees. I believe if the policy comes out, it must increase old-age pensions first. Old-age pensions are not high in China in general," Cai said.