Can I use medical insurance after paying social security?

Paying social security does not mean that you can use medical insurance immediately.

Although social security includes medical insurance, it usually takes some time for medical insurance to take effect. Specifically, newly insured employees or residents usually need to wait for a "waiting period" or "observation period", usually several months. In the meantime, even if you have paid social security, you can't use medical insurance immediately. Only after this waiting period, the medical insurance will take effect, and the insured can begin to enjoy the medical insurance benefits.

Waiting period: As mentioned above, newly insured employees or residents usually need to wait for a "waiting period" or "observation period", which is mainly to prevent fraud and abuse of medical insurance resources. The specific length of waiting time may vary according to different regions and policies.

Continuous payment requirements: in some cases, the use of medical insurance may also require continuous payment. If the insured fails to pay continuously within a certain period of time, the medical insurance may be temporarily invalid, and it will take some time to recover after continuous payment.

Medical insurance catalogue and reimbursement ratio: In addition to the above time limit, the use of medical insurance is also limited by medical insurance catalogue and reimbursement ratio. Only drugs and medical treatment items listed in the medical insurance catalogue can enjoy medical insurance reimbursement, and the reimbursement ratio of different items may be different.

To sum up, although social security has been included in medical insurance, it does not mean that medical insurance can be used immediately.

Legal basis:

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

Article 27

Individuals who participate in the basic medical insurance for employees will not pay the basic medical insurance premium after retirement and enjoy the basic medical insurance benefits in accordance with the provisions of the state if they reach the statutory retirement age and the accumulated payment has reached the fixed number of years stipulated by the state; Those who have not reached the fixed number of years prescribed by the state may pay the fees to the fixed number of years prescribed by the state.