SZ covers eligible non-hukou preschoolers in medicare program from Sept. 1

Eligible preschool children without Shenzhen hukou, or household registration, will be covered by the city’s basic medical insurance program from Sept. 1, according to the city authority. 

The policy is expected to benefit about 100,000 children each year.

Under the new policy, children under 7 who live in Shenzhen, are not enrolled in local kindergarten or schools, and are not covered by the basic medical insurance in another city or province, are eligible to be included in Shenzhen’s medicare program, on the condition that one parent is a Shenzhen hukou holder, or hold either a valid residence permit, or a Shenzhen-issued Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan residents’ residence permit.

Children already insured elsewhere must terminate that coverage before applying in Shenzhen to avoid duplicate enrollment.

Such children enrolled in the city’s medicare program will receive the same contribution rates, fiscal subsidies and benefit levels. Under city rules, children receive up to 75% reimbursement for ordinary outpatient care, up to 90% for specified outpatient conditions and up to 92% of inpatient care.

Parents should complete the annual enrollment each September and pay the full premium for the coverage year (September to the following August) in a single payment. Applicants who enroll in other months must pay the remaining months of that coverage year in one lump sum beginning with the month of application.

Applications may be applied online via the “Shenzhen Medical Insurance” WeChat account, or through the Shenzhen medical security bureau website’s personal online service system. In-person applications are also accepted at local social security and medical insurance service offices.