People who retire, work or become long-term residents in cities other than their hometowns, can bill the cost of treatment with medical insurance in any hospital connected to the national medical billing system, said Lu Aihong, the spokesman of Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the 21st Century Business Herald reported.
Previously, people could only enjoy medical insurance in their hometowns, or where their hukou — the local residency — was located.
As of September 25, some 7,226 hospitals can accept non-local residents using their medical insurance. And 88% of the First to Third Grade hospitals around the country have connected to the national medical billing system, the report said.
So far, 41,000 people have billed their medical costs using their medical insurance in other cities.
With the medical fund paying 560 million yuan (US$84.45 million) for them, on average, each person has enjoyed a rebate of 13,600 yuan.
Cheaper medication should be the real objective rather than computerization etc.