title: How to deal with burden of critical illness: A comparison of strategies in different areas of China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article aims to introduce, compare and analyze the design and development of Critical Illness Insurance systems in different parts of China under different social and economic conditions, to explain their characteristics and similarities. It may provide references to other countries, especially developing countries, to solve the problem of high medical costs.
  
  
  METHODS
  According to the methods in Comparative Economics, 3 areas (Taicang in Jiangsu, Zhanjiang in Guangdong, Xunyi in Shanxi) which are in high, medium and low socio-economic condition respectively were chosen in China. Their critical illness insurance systems were analyzed in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each system shares several common points, including coordinating urban and rural medical insurance fund, financing from the basic medical insurance surplus, and exploring payment reform and so on. But in the way of management, Taicang and Zhanjiang cooperate with commercial insurance agencies, but Xunyi chooses autonomous management by government. In Xunyi, multi-channel financing is relatively more dispersed, while funds of Taicang and Zhanjiang are mainly from the basic medical insurance surplus. The specific method of payment is different among these three areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the differences in economic development, population structure, and sources of funds, each area took their own mode on health policy orientation, financing, payment, coverage, and fund management to design their Critical Illness Insurance systems. This might provide references to other areas in China and other developing countries in the world.
authors.affiliation: Pengcheng Liu, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Pengcheng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Liwen Jiang, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Liwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Chengyue Li, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Chengyue
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Mei Sun, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Alexander Rieger, Medizinische University Innsbruck, Holzkirchen, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rieger
authors.affiliation: Mo Hao, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hao
keywords: Comparison; Critical Illness Insurance