Study On The Impact Of Urban And Rural Medical Insurance Planning On The Medical Burden Of Urban And Rural Residents

Over the past few decades,China has undergone rapid economic and social growth,which has unfortunately led to an increasing disparity between urban and rural areas,particularly in healthcare provision.The differences in medical insurance systems for urban and rural residents have caused rural residents to bear a heavier economic burden when accessing equivalent medical services.To address this issue,the Chinese government has progressively implemented urban-rural medical insurance integration policies in recent years,with the aim of achieving nationwide consolidation of healthcare security systems.However,the effectiveness of this policy in resolving urban-rural development imbalances and alleviating the medical burden on rural residents warrants further exploration.In-depth research into these matters will contribute to reducing the healthcare security gap between urban and rural areas,optimizing the allocation of medical resources,enhancing the health of both urban and rural residents,and minimizing the risk of illness-induced poverty and relapse into poverty,thus reinforcing the accomplishments in poverty reduction.This study examines the impact of urban-rural medical insurance integration policies on residents’ medical burdens through the organization and analysis of China Family Panel Studies(CFPS)data from 2016,2018,and 2020.Firstly,the medical burdens of residents in these three years are quantitatively assessed and subjected to a dynamic analysis,considering factors such as insurance type and income level.Next,employing the bivariate Theil indices decomposition method,the study investigates the equalization levels of medical burdens and burden alleviation for urban and rural residents from the perspectives of burden severity and alleviation effectiveness.Finally,using propensity score matching and difference-in-differences methods,the study analyzes the policy effects of integration on residents’ medical burdens,confirms these findings through robustness tests,and further investigates the heterogeneous impacts of different income levels on medical burdens.Based on a comprehensive analysis,the following conclusions are drawn: First,after the implementation of the integration policy,the medical burden of all residents has been mitigated,rural residents’ healthcare security level has improved,and medical risks are shared among both urban and rural areas,although a gap remains.Second,there is still a high degree of inequality in medical burdens among different income groups,with persistent inequality in healthcare burden alleviation between urban and rural areas and across different income levels.Third,the healthcare security level of low-income rural groups has significantly improved,with the urban-rural medical insurance integration policy having a more pronounced effect for households with lower income levels.Based on the research findings,this thesis offers the following policy recommendations: First,enhance the healthcare security system by establishing a unified system,formulating tiered policies,expanding assistance for low-income groups,and refining the catastrophic medical insurance system;Second,adjust medical pricing policies to guide residents’ healthcare choices,reduce patients’ economic burdens,and optimize payment policies;Third,deepen the allocation of medical resources by optimizing spatial distribution,promoting resource sharing,directing fiscal input towards underserved areas,increasing medical staff remuneration,and fostering telemedicine technology.Fourth,reinforce primary healthcare infrastructure,improve doctors’ compensation,increase investment in facilities,promote health education,and implement a tiered medical treatment system;Fifth,strengthen healthcare supervision and self-regulation,enforce strict qualification reviews,encourage industry self-discipline,combat illegal activities,and establish a transparent evaluation system.