Beijing to Provide Customized Accident Insurance for Elderly
November 28, 2013
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| Beijing will promote a customized accident insurance policy for elderly people by the end of the year, with those above the age of 60 and retirees aged between 50 and 60 eligible to buy the service regardless of their permanent residential registration status. [epaper.subaonet.com] |
It is estimated that there are three million people who will fit the requirements for purchasing the insurance.
The insurance will be provided by the Beijing Branch of China Life Insurance starting from December 16, 2013. The annual premium for each insurance policy is 17 yuan (US$ 2.8) and each person can purchase four at most.
For senior citizens who take the initiative to buy the insurance for themselves, the insurance premium will be reduced by two yuan (US$ 0.3).
The Beijing government will buy one policy each for Beijing permanent residents above 60 who are dependent on government subsistence allowances, have no income, no working ability and no legal support, or those who enjoy the state's 'five guarantees' system or preferential treatment, or who have lost their only child.
Those under the 'five guarantees' system have their food, clothing, housing, medical care and burial expenses taken care of and subsidized by the government.
It is estimated that a total of 70,000 senior citizens will be insured by the government by November 30, 2014.
The insurance will cover accidental injuries that happen in almost all public places including buses, taxies and subways and in parks, museums, stadiums and medical institutions, and also in institutions providing old-age services. Those incurred while participating in charity activities organized by the government and in volunteer work or while receiving volunteer work will also be covered.
Insurance benefits for those who encounter death, disability and burns from the accidental injuries within the insurance coverage will be 50,000 yuan (US$ 8,205) at most. Death and disability caused by food poisoning from the old-age service institutions will also be covered up to 50,000 yuan (US$ 8,205).
Medical expenses due to accidental injuries will be covered up to 5,000 yuan (US$ 820.5).
Similar services have already been provided in Shanghai, east China's Guangdong Province, and southeast China's Zhejiang Province.
In recent years in China, there have been instances where good Samaritans have helped elderly people who have fallen down on the street only to be accused of having caused the elderly person to fall down in the first place. Li Hongbing, deputy director of the Beijing Bureau of Civil Affairs, said the insurance will help solve this problem.
"The reason this happens is that the system has so far failed to protect elderly people. They don't know how much they have to spend on medical bills because of that fall. So the insurance can help with that," she said.
Due to the huge risks, there are few commercial insurance policies for senior citizens over 65. But with the higher possibility of being injured, it is this group that needs social insurance assistance.
"Last year, we provided an insurance policy covering senior citizens living in nursing homes and hospitals. For one year, we lost lots of money. But we were able to protect the rights and interests of those elderly people," Li said.
It is estimated that China could have some 400 million people over 60 years of age by 2050.
Zhang Wenfan, president of the China National Committee on Aging, believes that the problems facing China's elderly can be solved through combined efforts from family, the local community, and society as a whole. China's goal is to establish a support network for senior citizens that provides medical care, helps them avoid loneliness through study and entertainment, and encourages them to continue serving society after retirement by using their knowledge.
(Source: bj.people.com.cn/Translated and edited by womenofchina.cn)
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