Chinese government to raise health insurance subsidies

BEIJING - China will raise government subsidies for health insurance offered to farmers and non-working urbanites to more than 360 yuan ($57) a year by 2015.

The 80-percent increase was announced after a State Council executive meeting on Wednesday where new health reform targets were set for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15) period.

China's basic health insurance system includes health insurance for urban employees, jointly paid by governments, employers and individuals. There is also health insurance for non-working urban dwellers and rural cooperative health insurance for rural residents, which is co-funded by governments and individuals.