Premier Li Keqiang said in the Government Work Report in March that full coverage of the serious illness insurance nationwide will be completed this year. And according to official statistics, more than 1 billion urban and rural residents are now covered by the serious illness insurance system.
Li has stressed the significance of serious illness insurance several times. At an earlier executive meeting of the State Council, China's Cabinet, he said that serious illness insurance is the basic guarantee for the impoverished population in China and it acts as a stabilizer for society.
Serious illness insurance and the basic medical insurance that covers more than 1.3 billion people form an important net for social security.
Serious illness insurance has explored a new operating model dominated by the government while operated by the market. Up to now there are 16 insurance companies nationwide undertaking serious illness insurance in 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, which has covered 87.6 percent of national urban and rural residents.
The full coverage of serious illness insurance nationwide is conducive to not only people's well-being, but also the building of a harmonious society.