Aging society needs better social insurance

• Source: Global Times
• [00:06 March 09 2010]
• Comments

By Wang Yuan

An online survey by people.com.cn before this year's NPC and CPPCC sessions showed that care of the elderly ranked first, for the first time, among the issues raised by netizens.

This touched a chord within me because my mother is ill.

Luckily, her operation was a success and, though she is under post-operative radiotherapy and chemotherapy now, I do not feel relieved.

It has been two exhausting months, and the treatment can last for several more. Everyday I have to shuttle back and forth between home, hospital and my office. As the only child, I have no sibling to turn to.

For the first time in my life, I feel alone and helpless.

My mom feels alone, too. I brought her to Beijing from my hometown for better treatment. Although I have spent all my spare time, and even working time, with her, she has to get through most of the day in hospital or at home by herself, experiencing physical discomfort.

Medical expenses are a heavy burden. We can claim about 50 percent of the expenses from the healthcare system. As my mom does not have a Beijing hukou, the percentage is less than for Beijing residents. And, due to the high expenses, the part we should bear amounts to several years' savings of my family.

When I told a friend of mine about these pressures, she began to worry about her own situation. Her boyfriend's parents are farmers who are not covered by healthcare. She asked me, "How can we afford his parents' medical expenditure in the future? What if more than one parent is ill?"

In fact, both of us are typical of our generation in China. We were born in the late 1970s or early 1980s, and we are the only children of our parents. As our parents age and we plan our own children, China's family planning is showing its effect on us – the "421" phenomenon. That is, if an only-child marries another, the couple will have to support four parents and at least one child.

It's really a heavy burden.

With China entering old-age society, more youth will have to shoulder the burden. The current uncertain and unsound public medical insurance system can hardly help them.

For families, especially rural families, uncovered by social insurance system, the greatest difficulty is to meet ever-growing medical expenditure. For those covered by social insurance, too, it is not a rosy picture.

Besides the uneven distribution of medical resources, there's not enough time to attend to one's child and parents' treatment. The commercial insurance and medical service sectors are neither good enough nor reliable enough. The social and medical security for elders is negligible.

My experience is typical of the situation faced by numerous Chinese. The problem of caring for parents is a social issue compounded by many factors, and reform to address this could be complicated. However, the rapid increase of the gray population will worsen the situation.

Therefore, no matter how difficult it is, reform is essential and urgent.