China has broadened its employee health insurance program, allowing more individuals to share account balances with relatives to cover medical expenses. This initiative aims to reduce healthcare costs for families and improve access to medical services.
As of December 9, 2024, all provincial regions have introduced reforms enabling eligible employee health insurance holders to link their accounts with those of close family members via online platforms.
Building on earlier reforms, the program initially allowed account sharing with spouses, parents, and children in 2021. In July 2024, it was further extended to include “close relatives,” such as siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren.
According to the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA), between January and November 2024, approximately 325 million instances of account sharing were recorded, amounting to over 43.86 billion yuan (around $6.1 billion) in expenditures. Of this, designated healthcare institutions accounted for 34.31 billion yuan, retail pharmacies for 2.07 billion yuan, and contributions to the residential basic health insurance program for 7.48 billion yuan.
While all provinces now support account sharing within their borders, cross-provincial account sharing is being gradually implemented and is expected to be fully functional by 2025.
This reform impacts over 300 million employees and nearly one billion residents covered by health insurance. It is expected to lower family medical expenses, enhance financial protection against health risks, and improve fund management across provinces. The initiative underscores China’s dedication to increasing the accessibility and affordability of healthcare.
