Integrating social health insurance systems in China

For the first time, the Chinese Government has officially endorsed a unified insurance scheme for residents in urban and rural areas, with unification of coverage, a fund pooling mechanism, a benefits package and reimbursement rates, a basic medical insurance drug list, unified selection of health providers, and fund management. This decision marks a commendable milestone towards universal health coverage in China. However, implementation of this integration needs special attention to some key points.