Industry update
China's new five-year medical security plan highlights cross-region settlement and wider insurance access
A State Council release dated August 19 says China will improve direct settlement for out-of-region treatment, extend enrollment pathways for residence permit holders, and keep expanding long-term care and village-level insurance access through 2030.
China's State Council portal reported on August 19 that the National Healthcare Security Administration has issued a 2026-2030 plan aimed at making the country's healthcare security system more accessible, affordable, and sustainable. The release says the plan covers 26 measures across basic medical insurance, critical illness insurance, medical assistance, maternity insurance, commercial health insurance, and long-term care insurance.
Several measures are especially relevant for cross-city patients and long-stay visitors. The official report says China will upgrade online tools for comparing medicine prices and locating pharmacies, expand direct settlement for treatment received outside a patient's home region, and pilot cross-regional direct settlement for maternity-related medical expenses. It also says residence permit holders should be able to enroll in basic medical insurance under the plan's framework.
For PatientChina readers, this is a useful policy signal rather than a guarantee of immediate bedside coverage. Patients should still confirm directly with the insurer, local medical security bureau, and chosen licensed hospital whether a specific service, bill, or specialty visit can be settled directly and whether local enrollment rules apply to their visa or residence status.