Why incorporate flexible employment in fertility insurance coverage?National Medical Insurance Bureau response

Cover news reporter Shao Meng

A few days ago, 17 departments including the National Health and Health Commission and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Further Importing and Implementing Active Maternity Support Measures", which clearly stated that localities can explore the coverage of flexible employment in maternity insurance.

On August 17th, the press conference of the National Health and Health Commission. Cover reporter Shao Meng Photography

On August 17, Liu Juan, deputy director of the National Medical Insurance Bureau Treatment Security Department, said at a press conference of the National Health and Health Commission that most women among flexible employees are at the age of fertility. It is conducive to strengthening the guarantee of fertility, and it is also conducive to alleviating the worries of their fertility.

According to Liu Juan, with the improvement of the maternity insurance and medical insurance system, the current women's maternity medical expenses have corresponding institutional arrangements to ensure that the fund can be paid by the fund according to regulations. Generally speaking, the current institutional arrangements have strongly supported the implementation of fertility policies. In accordance with national regulations, maternity insurance covers the employer and their employees in accordance with the law. The employer is paid by the employer, and the individual does not pay the fee.

In recent years, the number of insureds for maternity insurance has continued to increase, and the coverage has also expanded. In 2021, the number of fertility insurance participants reached 240 million, which was 1.5 times that of 2012. Medical expenses that are not employed and flexible employment women can be reimbursed by participating in basic medical insurance in accordance with the prescribed regulations.

Liu Juan pointed out that the social security issues of flexible employees are very concerned about the social security of flexible employment. The "Guidance Opinions" proposes that places can explore the coverage of flexible employees into maternity insurance. There are three main considerations:

The first is to improve and improve the system. With the development of the new business and the new economy, all parties are concerned about the social security issues of flexible employment. Because flexible employees do not have a fixed employer, they are not in the legal coverage of maternity insurance. Exploring flexible employment personnel participation in maternity insurance is conducive to improving the system, and also reflects the tolerance of the policy.

The second is to protect the fertility of flexible employment. Most women in flexible employees are at the age of fertility. They allow flexible employees to participate in maternity insurance and enjoy maternity allowances, which is conducive to strengthening the relevant protection of fertility.

The third is to promote female employment in flexible employment. Flexible employment personnel are unstable, and income during fertility may be affected to a certain extent. Incorporating it into the scope of protection, it is conducive to alleviating the worries of their fertility.

Liu Juan said that the local area also conducted a certain practice exploration, incorporated flexible employment personnel into the scope of maternity insurance, participated in maternity insurance simultaneously while participating in employee medical insurance, and enjoyed maternity allowances. The practical effect was good. The "Guidance" further clarified the direction of exploration and better guarantee the right to the medical and fertility guarantee of flexible employment.

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