When suffering from a serious illness, first use yibao, dibao, medical assistance, and register for cross‑regional treatment — avoid online loans

10. When suffering from a serious illness, first use yibao, dibao, medical assistance, and register for cross‑regional treatment — avoid online loans

Cost: There is no expense involved. The steps must be followed in order. First, before being hospitalized in another province, register via the “National Medical Insurance Administration” WeChat official account using the “National Cross‑Regional Medical Registration” mini‑program. Second, settle the bill directly upon discharge. Third, if the remaining amount after reimbursement is still unaffordable, apply to the local township government or subdistrict office for medical assistance. Fourth, employed individuals are entitled to a medical leave period ranging from 3 to 24 months during which they cannot be dismissed; workers suffering from work‑related injuries should turn to workers’ compensation. Fifth, if credit‑card payments cannot be met, proactively negotiate a repayment plan with the bank. Sixth, as a last resort, use a personal fundraising platform authorized by the Civil Affairs Bureau. The required documents are mainly medical diagnoses, expense lists, and settlement statements; you will need to make 2–4 trips. The difficulty lies in having to handle all these procedures while ill.

In plain terms: The sequence is fixed. Before any cross‑provincial hospitalization, register through the “National Medical Insurance Administration” WeChat account; this allows direct settlement at discharge without paying the full amount upfront. If the post‑reimbursement cost remains high, apply for medical assistance at the township or subdistrict level. Employees are granted a medical leave period of 3–24 months based on seniority, during which they cannot be fired. Steer clear of online loans and high‑interest private borrowing. In total, 120 people have benefited from this system.

Benefit: The state groups basic medical insurance, dibao, and medical assistance into what is known as the “triple safety net,” each layer providing additional protection. Eligible low‑income and extremely vulnerable individuals receive at least 70 % coverage for qualifying medical expenses. Even those who are not originally poor but become financially strained by illness may apply for extra aid. Proper pre‑registration ensures immediate post‑discharge settlement without needing to pay out‑of‑pocket first. The medical leave period lasts 3–24 months depending on length of service; during this time employers must retain employment and pay at least 80 % of the local minimum wage. Injured workers enjoy a “work‑rest period” of up to 12 months with full salary and benefits maintained by the employer. Credit‑card borrowers facing unmanageable debt may negotiate a customized repayment schedule with the bank, extending payments up to five years; once agreed, the bank must cease collection efforts. Only platforms expressly designated by the State Council’s Civil Affairs Bureau may solicit online donations, and they must verify the authenticity of each request before disbursing funds directly to the applicant.

Evidence grade: A

Sources: State Council of China (2021). Opinions on improving the medical insurance and assistance system for serious and serious diseases (Guobanfa [2021] No. 42). <https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2021/content_5659514.htm>; National Healthcare Security Administration of China (2025). How to directly reimburse for medical treatment in other places across provinces? . <https://www.nhsa.gov.cn/art/2025/3/16/art_14_16010.html>; Ministry of Labor (1994). Regulations on the medical treatment period for enterprise employees who are sick or injured not due to work (Ministry of Labor [1994] No. 479, Articles 2 and 3). <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2022-08/31/content_5711269.htm>; Ministry of Labor (1995). Opinions on Several Issues Concerning the Implementation of the Labor Law (Ministry of Labor [1995] No. 309, Article 59). <http://hrss.jl.gov.cn/ldgx/ldyggl/201608/t20160824_2401358.html> (Reprinted by Jilin Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security); State Council of China (revised in 2010). Regulation on Work-Related Injury Insurance (State Council of China Order No. 586, Article 30, Article 33). <https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm>; China Banking Regulatory Commission (2011). Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Credit Card Business of Commercial Banks (CBRC Order 2011 No. 2, Article 70). <https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1893974.htm>; National People's Congress Standing Committee (2023). Decision on amending the Charity Law (Article 124). <https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202312/content_6923390.htm>; Ministry of Civil Affairs of China and five other departments (2024). Measures for the Management of Online Service Platforms for Personal Help (Order No. 75, Articles 3, 11, 13, and 17). <https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2024/issue_11646/202410/content_6980857.html>

Notes: The exact percentage of medical assistance and its annual cap are set locally by each insurance region. The “medical leave period” is defined as the span during which an employee cannot be terminated due to illness; it is divided into six tiers based on total and company‑specific tenure. After this period ends, termination becomes legally permissible, so it is wise to know which tier applies to you. Emergency patients also fall under the registration requirement, though the official site does not clarify whether such cases are automatically covered or require retroactive filing; contact your local insurer for clarification. High‑interest online loans and private usury are strictly discouraged; courts only protect debtors up to four times the one‑year LPR rate (see item 15). Any amount exceeding this limit remains legally owed, though pursuing litigation while ill is impractical. In cases of acute, life‑threatening illness, emergency care must be rendered regardless of ability to pay; such costs are covered by the Emergency Medical Assistance Fund (see section 24, item 9). The original text of Ministry of Labor Decree No. 309 (1995) is unavailable on the Ministry’s website; the cited content is reproduced from a provincial labor authority source.