Why is the payment period of medical insurance less than that of social security?

Mainly lies in their differences in nature, function and policy orientation.

Medical insurance is mainly to ensure that citizens can get necessary medical assistance when diseases occur, while social security covers pension, medical care, unemployment, work-related injuries, maternity and other aspects, with a wider coverage. Therefore, from the perspective of policy design, the payment period of social security is relatively long to ensure its stability and sustainability.

First, the nature and function of medical insurance and social security differences

Medical insurance is a system specially established for citizens' medical security, which aims to enable the insured to obtain reimbursement of medical expenses by paying certain fees when they are sick or injured. Social security is a comprehensive social security system, covering not only medical security, but also pension, unemployment, work injury, maternity and other aspects. Because of the wider coverage of social security, its policy design and implementation are more complicated.

Two, medical insurance and social security payment period requirements

Due to the different nature and functions of medical insurance and social security, their payment period requirements are also different. Generally speaking, the payment period of medical insurance is relatively short, because its main concern is the protection of medical expenses when citizens get sick. The payment period of social security is relatively long, which is to ensure the stability and sustainability of the social security system and to cope with the increasing pressure of social security expenditure.

Third, policy orientation and adjustment.

The payment period of medical insurance and social security is required to be adjusted according to national policies and actual conditions. With the development of economy and society and the change of population structure, the government may adjust the payment period requirements of medical insurance and social security in time to better protect the basic needs of citizens.

To sum up:

The reason why the payment period of medical insurance is shorter than that of social security is because of their differences in nature, function and policy orientation. Medical insurance is mainly to protect citizens' medical expenses when they get sick, while social security is a comprehensive social security system. Therefore, from the perspective of policy design, the payment period of social security is relatively long. In practice, the government will adjust the payment period requirements of medical insurance and social security according to national policies and actual conditions to better protect the basic needs of citizens.

Legal basis:

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

Article 16 stipulates:

Individuals who participate in the basic old-age insurance will receive the basic old-age pension on a monthly basis if they have paid a total of fifteen years when they reach the statutory retirement age. Individuals who participate in the basic old-age insurance and pay less than fifteen years when they reach the statutory retirement age can pay for fifteen years and receive the basic pension on a monthly basis; Can also be transferred to the new rural social endowment insurance or urban residents' social endowment insurance, enjoy the corresponding pension insurance benefits in accordance with the provisions of the State Council.

Article 23 provides that:

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.

Regulations of People's Republic of China (PRC) Municipality on Basic Medical Insurance for Urban Workers

Article 7 provides that:

The basic medical insurance premium is paid jointly by the employer and the employees. Among them, the employer's contribution rate is 5% to 7% of the total monthly salary of employees, and the employee's contribution rate is 2% of their total monthly salary.