Can the medical insurance card be used universally within a province?

In provinces where provincial coordination of health insurance has been realized, health insurance cards can usually be used in different parts of the province, which makes it convenient for the insured to purchase medicines in different cities within the province. However, in provinces where provincial coordination of health insurance has not been realized, the use of the health insurance card may be subject to geographical restrictions, which require participants to follow the local regulations to complete the relevant procedures or use the local health insurance card.

I. Realization of provincial coordination of health insurance

Provincial coordination of health insurance refers to the unified planning, management and implementation of health insurance policies within a province. This helps to break down geographical barriers and improve the fairness and accessibility of health insurance. At present, some provinces have already realized provincial coordination of health care insurance, but there are still some provinces that have not yet done so. Therefore, whether or not the medical insurance card can be used universally within a province depends first on whether or not provincial coordination of medical insurance has been realized in that province.

Second, the medical insurance card in the province to realize the provincial coordination of the common situation

In the province has realized the provincial coordination of health insurance, medical insurance card can usually be used in all parts of the province. Participants can use their own health insurance cards directly to purchase medicines in different cities within the province, and enjoy the same health insurance treatment as local participants. This greatly facilitates the demand for medical treatment and purchase of medicines by insured persons and improves the convenience of medical insurance services.

Third, the use of health insurance cards in provinces that have not yet realized the provincial coordination of the use of restrictions

In provinces that have not yet realized the provincial coordination of health insurance, the use of health insurance cards may be subject to geographical restrictions. Due to the differences in health insurance policies, treatment standards and management methods, participants may need to go through relevant procedures, such as referrals and filings, when purchasing medicines in different cities. In addition, some regions may require participants to use their local health insurance cards in order to enjoy health insurance benefits. These limitations have caused some inconvenience to the participants' medical treatment and purchase of medicines.

Fourth, the way to solve the use of medical insurance card restrictions

In order to solve the problem of the use of medical insurance card restrictions, on the one hand, we need to speed up the process of provincial integration of medical insurance, to achieve province-wide uniformity of medical insurance policy and equal treatment; on the other hand, the insured person can pay attention to changes in the local medical insurance policy, and timely understanding of the relevant procedures, in order to better enjoy the benefits of medical insurance.

In summary, the following is a summary of the changes in the local health insurance policy

In summary:

Whether or not health insurance cards can be used universally within a province depends on whether or not provincial coordination of health insurance has been realized in that province. In provinces where provincial coordination of health insurance has been realized, health insurance cards can usually be used everywhere in the province; while in provinces where provincial coordination of health insurance has not been realized, the use of health insurance cards may be subject to geographical restrictions. Therefore, participants need to pay attention to the changes in the local health insurance policy and go through the relevant procedures according to the actual situation in order to better enjoy the health insurance benefits.

Legal basis:

The Social Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China

Article 23 stipulates:

Employees shall participate in the basic medical insurance for employees, and shall pay the basic medical insurance premiums by the employing organization and the employees in accordance with the state regulations***.

Individual industrial and commercial households without employees, part-time workers who do not participate in the basic medical insurance for employees at their employing organizations, and other flexibly employed persons may participate in the basic medical insurance for employees, and individuals shall pay the basic medical insurance premiums in accordance with the state regulations.

Article 29 stipulates:

The portion of a participant's medical expenses that should be paid out of the basic medical insurance fund shall be settled directly between the social insurance administration organization and the medical institutions and drug business units.

The administrative departments of social insurance and the administrative departments of health shall establish a settlement system for medical expenses incurred for medical treatment in other places, so as to facilitate the enjoyment of basic medical insurance by insured persons.