Community-based health insurance in China: bending to the wind of change.
China's Cooperative Medical System, a community-based health insurance scheme, declined markedly after the economic restructuring of rural communities and the development of a private market in the health sector during the late 1970s. However, a study of the modified system in Taichang County, where it remains popular, has revealed that insurance premiums (calculated as a percentage of household income), copayments, the inclusion of non-agricultural workers, and strong political support not only favoured the system but also increased its efficiency and effectiveness.
Khan
M M
MM
School of Public Health, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Zhu
N
N
Ling
J C
JC
D002681:China; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012423:Rural Health