Medical insurance generally refers to basic medical insurance, which is a social insurance system established to compensate workers for economic losses caused by disease risks. The medical insurance fund is established through the contributions of employers and individuals. After the insured person has medical expenses, the medical insurance institution will give certain economic compensation.

The establishment and implementation of the basic medical insurance system has gathered the economic strength of units and social members. With the government's funding, sick social members can get necessary material help from the society, reduce the burden of medical expenses, and prevent sick social members from "poverty due to illness".

Medical insurance, like other types of insurance, collects medical insurance premiums from people threatened by diseases in advance in the form of contracts and establishes medical insurance funds; When the insured goes to a medical institution for medical treatment, the medical insurance institution will give him some economic compensation.

The functions of medical insurance are as follows:

1 is conducive to improving labor productivity and promoting the development of production;

2. Adjust the income gap and reflect social equity;

3. An important guarantee for maintaining social stability;

4. An important means to promote social civilization and progress;

5. An important guarantee for promoting economic system reform, especially the reform of state-owned enterprises.

legal ground

People's Republic of China (PRC) social insurance law

Twenty-third employees should participate in the basic medical insurance for employees, and employers and employees should pay the basic medical insurance premiums in accordance with state regulations.

Individual industrial and commercial households without employees, part-time employees who have not participated in the basic medical insurance for employees and other flexible employees can participate in the basic medical insurance for employees, and individuals pay the basic medical insurance premium in accordance with state regulations. Article 24 The state establishes and improves the new rural cooperative medical system.

Measures for the administration of the new rural cooperative medical system shall be formulated by the State Council. Article 25 The state establishes and improves the basic medical insurance system for urban residents.

The basic medical insurance for urban residents combines individual contributions with government subsidies.

People who enjoy the minimum living guarantee, disabled people who have lost their ability to work, elderly people and minors over 60 years old in low-income families, etc. , subsidized by the government.