National Medical Insurance Administration: 31 provinces and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps have included assisted reproduction in medical insurance

Today (17th), the National Medical Insurance Administration held a press conference on the theme of "Protecting People's Health and Empowering Economic Development" by the medical insurance department. Relevant persons in charge of the National Medical Insurance Administration said that the National Medical Insurance Administration focuses on improving policies and measures, strengthening the protection function of maternity insurance, promoting the same direction as relevant economic and social policies, and jointly promoting the construction of a fertility-friendly society. From January to November 2024, the number of people participating in maternity insurance was 252 million, and the fund benefits expenditure was 115.811 billion yuan.

The National Medical Insurance Administration guides places with conditions to include flexible employment personnel and new employment forms participating in employee medical insurance in the coverage of maternity insurance to better protect their fertility rights. At present, provinces such as Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Tianjin, and Guizhou have explored the inclusion of relevant personnel in maternity insurance.

At the same time, based on the fund's affordability, strengthen the medical expenses for prenatal examinations and inpatient delivery, provide medical expenses for assisted reproductive technology, and improve management level. At present, 31 provinces and the Corps have included assisted reproduction in medical insurance, and have benefited more than 1 million people in 2024.

In addition, we will promote the direct settlement of fertility medical expenses, and encourage regions with conditions to directly distribute maternity allowances to insured female employees according to procedures, and the maternity allowance allocation business will be completed within 10 working days. At present, more than one-third of the regions across the country have directly distributed maternity allowances to individuals according to procedures.

In the next step, the National Health Insurance Administration will continue to improve the maternity insurance system and policies, comprehensively use medical insurance policy tools to actively support childbirth, reduce the burden of childbirth medical expenses, and at the same time actively strengthen departmental coordination to jointly promote high-quality population development.

(CCTV reporter Zhang Ping and Zheng Yizhe)