China sees 4 million rise in basic health insurance enrollments in 2026

The National Health Security Administration reported that China’s basic medical insurance programme added more than four million new members in 2026, keeping the overall participation rate at 95%.

Officials said the increase stemmed from measures such as lifting residency‑registration restrictions for flexible‑work migrants, allowing them to enrol where they live or work, and introducing inter‑provincial sharing of individual insurance accounts for family members.

In March, new regulations expanded long‑term care insurance, which now covers about 320 million people and has trained over 50 000 certified caregivers, according to Liu Juan.

Maternity insurance also expanded: 20 provinces introduced policies to encourage flexible‑work and migrant workers to enroll, while 28 provinces removed patient co‑payments for inpatient deliveries. In 2025 the scheme paid out 4.81 million benefits, with an average payout of roughly 30 000 yuan (≈ US$4 400).