What stage has China's Healthcare Security Law reached as of August 2026?
On August 25, 2026, the NPCSC opened the third reading of the draft Healthcare Security Law at the 24th session of the 14th NPCSC. It has not yet been adopted; a vote, a Presidential Order and an effective date are still required.
What new subsidy did the third reading add for vulnerable groups?
The third-reading text provides that exceptionally impoverished persons, members of households receiving the minimum subsistence allowance, and eligible poverty-prevention targets who join urban-rural resident basic medical insurance shall receive subsidies covering their personal contribution portion under national rules.
Does the draft create a long-term care insurance system?
Yes. The third reading adds that the State establishes and improves a long-term care insurance system. Financing, benefits, fund use and supervision will be set by the State Council healthcare-security authority together with relevant departments, by reference to the law's basic medical-insurance provisions.
What should employers operating in China do now?
Map flexible and platform-worker enrolment against forthcoming State Council measures on employee basic medical insurance participation, budget for long-term care insurance once implementing rules appear, and brief HR and legal teams on the vulnerable-group subsidy baseline and cross-provincial settlement timing duties.
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