China's basic medical insurance coverage rate has remained stable at approximately 95 percent of the population throughout the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) announced on Thursday.
Zhang Ke, head of the administration, unveiled the data at a press conference in Beijing.
"During the 2021-2025 period, China's basic medical insurance has maintained a coverage rate of around 95 percent, with 1.327 billion people enrolled in 2024," Zhang said.
Authorities highlighted continuous improvements to the insurance system in the five-year period: The long-acting mechanism for acquiring basic medical insurance has been continuously improved and made complete, with medical aid subsidizing premiums for nearly 80 million individuals annually. Meanwhile, the proportion of insurance fund payment for hospitalization expenses by employees and residents within the catalogue of reimbursement has remained stable at around 80 percent and 70 percent respectively.
In the 2021-2025 period, the mutual aid guarantee mechanism for outpatient services under the employee medical insurance program and the consolidated insurance funds guarantee mechanism for general outpatient expenses have been fully established. The operation of pilot projects of the insurance system for long-term care has been further advanced, covering nearly 190 million people, according to the authorities.
Monitoring over the appropriation of medical insurance funds has been continuously strengthened over the past five years, with the establishment of a comprehensive fund supervision system. Meanwhile, measures such as pre-event education, in-event reminders, post-event supervision, and surprise inspections have been regularly and comprehensively advanced.
"By the end of 2024, the accumulated balance of the consolidated funds for medical insurance reached 3.86 trillion yuan (539.77 billion U.S. dollars). A total of 104.5 billion yuan of misused medical insurance funds has been recovered," Zhang said.
China achieves 95-percent health insurance coverage rate under 14th Five-Year Plan
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
