title: Healthcare reform in urban China.
abstract: After the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, urban people who worked for the government and its enterprises were offered free healthcare. This benefit continued after their retirement. Due to the characteristics of socialism, a large majority of the urban population were included in this free healthcare system. The past 16 years, however, have seen a dramatic change in this coverage, significantly influencing urban living standards. This paper will discuss the causes, consequences and current adjustments in medical care reform. The impact on the daily lives of the urban elderly will also be the focus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Philosophy, Northern Kentucky University, Nunn Dr. LA 234, Highland Heights, KY 41099 USA. liyu@nku.edu
authors.forename: Yushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D016304:Hospitals, Private; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000458:organization & administration; D017149:Private Sector / Q000191:economics; D012922:Social Change; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration