Recently, the information concerning the first half of this year’s medical assistance for major diseases and temporary assistance at city level was released on the official website of Zhongshan Civil Affairs Bureau. In the first half, medical assistance fund, after medical assistance for major diseases additionally covering ordinary families, amounted to 5.59 million yuan, of which 443.74 thousand yuan benefited 16 ordinary families.

According to the staff from Zhongshan Civil Affairs Bureau, since 2014, Zhongshan has put in place the medical assistance system for major diseases. Low income families with Zhongshan household registration can receive subsidy from the city and township governments for their hospitalization expenses. In the past three years, medical assistance issued by the city and township governments has exceeded 25 million yuan, and more than 200 thousand people in need have been helped.

At the end of last year, Zhongshan revised the medical assistance system for major diseases. The revision expanded the coverage of assistance recipients from low-income families with a Zhongshan household registration to destitute families and families that face economic difficulties due to emergencies.

“If a family’s hospitalization expenses of the past one year exceed 60% of its annual disposable income, it can apply for reimbursement through medical insurance and take back 70%. A single person’s annual assistance received can be as high as 200 thousand yuan”, said the staff from Zhongshan Civil Affairs Bureau.