The minimum payment period for medical insurance has been increased in many places, 30 years for men and 25 years for women, what signal?

　　China News Service, July 12 Question:

　　China-Singapore Finance reporter Li Jinlei

　　Recently, many places have gradually increased the minimum payment period of employee medical insurance. Men have to pay for 30 years and women have to pay for 25 years, which has caused heated discussions.

Why increase the minimum payment period?

What if I don't have enough years to pay contributions when I retire?

What are the effects?

Increase the minimum payment period for medical insurance in many places

　　Recently, the Guangdong Provincial Medical Security Bureau, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Finance and the Guangdong Provincial Taxation Bureau of the State Administration of Taxation issued the "Interim Measures for the Transfer and Continuation of Basic Medical Insurance Relations in Guangdong Province", which will be implemented from July 1, 2022.

　　The "Interim Measures" proposes to gradually unify the province's employee medical insurance payment period policy.

For cities that do not meet the provisions of the preceding paragraph, starting from 2022, on the basis of the city's 2021 payment period policy, the city's employee medical insurance cumulative payment period will be adjusted year by year.

　　In addition, at the end of 2021, the Shandong Provincial Medical Security Bureau, the Shandong Provincial Department of Finance, and the Shandong Provincial Taxation Bureau of the State Administration of Taxation issued the "Notice on Further Standardizing the Payment of Basic Medical Insurance Participation Fees and Treatment Payments". Minimum payment period for insurance.

The cumulative minimum payment period for insured employees to enjoy basic medical insurance benefits for retirees shall be implemented in accordance with the "Implementation Opinions on Establishing a List System of Medical Insurance Benefits" (Lu Yi Bao Fa [2021] No. 43), which

Why increase the minimum payment period?

　　According to the provisions of the Social Security Law,

; If yes, the fee can be paid up to the period stipulated by the state.

　　However, the policies for the minimum payment period of medical insurance vary from place to place.

In some areas, 10 or 15 years is sufficient. For example, in Guangzhou, it is currently implemented as 10 years (insurance before 2014) or 15 years (insurance after 2014); in some areas, it takes 25 years for men and 20 years for women. years, such as Beijing; in some areas, it takes 30 years for men and 25 years for women, such as Chongqing.

　　So, why do many places increase the minimum payment period of medical insurance to 30 years for men and 25 years for women?

　　Zhongxin Finance reporter noticed that in 2021, the National Medical Insurance Administration and the Ministry of Finance issued the "Opinions on Establishing a List of Medical Insurance Benefits", clearly proposing a

　　Wang Zhen, a researcher at the Institute of Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told Chinanews.com's "China New Observation" column that raising the minimum payment period is an inevitable requirement for improving my country's medical security system, and it is also implementing the "Opinions on Establishing a Medical Security Benefit List System" , in order to improve the equity of medical insurance.

It turns out that the payment period is not uniform across the country. In the future, it will be a game of chess across the country, and a unified policy framework will be formed across the country.

　　Zhang Yinghua, executive researcher of the World Social Security Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, analyzed the "China New Observation" column of China News Service. my country's basic medical insurance co-ordination level is not high. Different regions in a province have different regulations on the minimum payment period. As the provincial level moves forward, the differences in payment policies between regions should gradually disappear.

　　The Guangdong Provincial Medical Insurance Bureau stated in its interpretation that the payment period policy is an important part of the employee medical insurance financing policy.

At present, there is a big difference in the cumulative minimum payment period of employee medical insurance in various cities in our province.

Therefore, it is proposed to adopt the method of increasing year by year to gradually unify the minimum payment period of medical insurance for employees in the province.

Data map: Citizens queue up at intervals in the outpatient hall of the hospital to register.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Yang Di

Is it because the health insurance fund is short of money?

　　Many netizens are concerned that the reason why the minimum payment period of medical insurance is increased is because the medical insurance fund is short of money?

In the eyes of experts, such an understanding is one-sided.

　　Wang Zhen said that raising the minimum payment period for medical insurance was attributed to insufficient medical insurance funds. In fact, this is not the case. Even if the national medical insurance fund does not collect a penny, it will be enough to spend two years. Although there are some structural problems, it is always Quantity is not lacking.

　　According to data from the National Medical Insurance Administration, as of the end of 2021, the current balance of the national basic medical insurance (including maternity insurance) fund was 468.448 billion yuan, and the cumulative balance was 3,615.630 billion yuan.

The accumulated balance of more than 3.6 trillion yuan is generally sufficient.

What is the impact of raising the minimum contribution period?

　　Regarding the impact of the increase in the minimum payment period of medical insurance, Zhang Yinghua believes that in the province, with the unification of the minimum payment period, the pace of provincial-level overall planning of basic medical insurance will be accelerated, and at the same time, the difference in the payment burden of insured persons between regions will be solved. Conducive to system fairness.

　　In her view, this will also lead to an increase in the "actual minimum payment period" and increase the income of the basic medical insurance fund.

Some groups of people may extend the payment period. For example, if the actual payment period is increased, those closer to the retirement age are more likely to extend the payment period; more flexible employees may choose to participate in urban and rural resident medical insurance instead.

What should I do if the minimum payment period is not enough?

　　The minimum payment period for medical insurance is 30 years for males and 25 years for females. Some people feel that it is difficult to reach this period. What should I do if the retirement age is less than the minimum payment period?

Do you want to keep paying?

　　From the perspective of local policies, a one-time supplementary payment is allowed when the retirement age payment is less than the minimum number of years.

　　Among them, Guangdong makes it clear that you can choose to pay monthly or one-time payment to the specified number of years according to regulations.

Those who choose one-time payment shall take the post-retirement treatment for the one-time payment and enjoy the monthly average salary of employees in full-caliber urban units in the previous year as the payment base. years.

Persons who make a one-time payment shall enjoy the medical security benefits for retirees after the payment reaches the specified number of years.

　　For those who do not reach the minimum payment period when they retire, Shandong has clarified two solutions: First, they can enjoy basic medical insurance benefits for retirees after making a one-time payment according to regulations.

The second is to continue to pay the normal monthly payment to the minimum payment period, and enjoy the basic medical insurance benefits as in-service personnel during the period.

　　Wang Zhen said that it is difficult for migrant workers and flexible workers to pay 30 years for men and 25 years for women.

This is the drawback brought about by the "semi-accumulation system" feature of our country's employee medical insurance system for retirees who do not pay premiums.

From the perspective of improving my country's medical security system, improving the fairness of the system and operating efficiency, the "semi-cumulative system" policy of retirees not paying premiums must be abolished in the end.

　　Wang Zhen explained that medical insurance and endowment insurance are two completely different types of insurance, both in theory and in terms of international development experience. As a result, medical insurance has become a "semi-cumulative system", which affects the efficiency and fairness of operation.

Especially for migrant workers and people with flexible employment, who have strong mobility and high frequency of job change, their rights and interests are more difficult to maintain under the "semi-accumulation system".

From this perspective, it is also an inevitable trend to cancel the non-payment of retirees.

As long as they are urban employees, no matter where they are and what kind of occupation they are engaged in, they can participate in insurance and enjoy benefits at any time.

Secondly, from the perspective of institutional fairness, there is no such thing as non-payment of retirement contributions in the medical insurance for urban and rural residents.

From the perspective of realizing the fairness and unity of the system, it is also an inevitable requirement to abolish the non-payment of retirees and reform the unreasonable "semi-accumulation system".

　　Wang Zhen believes that unifying the different minimum payment periods across the country is the first step in solving the "semi-accrual system".

In the end, it is necessary to return to the pay-as-you-go system and return to the track of fair payment for all insured persons.

Only in this way can we fundamentally solve the problem that it is difficult for migrant workers and flexible employees to achieve the minimum payment period.

(Finish)