Guangzhou Municipal Medical Insurance Center issued the Operating Guide for Hospitalization Charges for Personnel Covered by Supplemental Medical Insurance. From this month, the 640,000 retired personnel covered by the basic urban employee medical insurance will enjoy free supplemental healthcare, and about two thirds of the portion of medical bills for diseases within the scope of medical insurance coverage, which was previously paid by individual patients, will be reimbursed by the government. The new rules will reduce individuals' overall medical expenses by almost 50%.

Under the new rules, the 640,000 retired personnel already covered by the basic urban employee medical insurance will be exempted from the premiums for the supplemental medical insurance, and individuals in active employment will be entitled to the supplemental medical insurance from the next month after the premiums are paid. The new rules mean that retired personnel will be able to enjoy the supplemental medical insurance from February 1.

The Guide issued by the Guangzhou Municipal Medical Insurance Center provides that:

Insured personnel in active employment will be entitled to the supplemental medical insurance from the next month after the premiums are paid and will forfeit the supplemental medical insurance from the next month after they stop paying the premiums.

Retired personnel will be entitled to the supplemental medical insurance from February 1, 2007, in addition to their regular basic medical insurance. Those who are not entitled to basic medical insurance will not be able to enjoy the supplemental medical insurance. Those who have been admitted to hospital before the new rules become effective will pay the expenses according to the specific dates of their hospitalization.

Editor: Yan