When suffering from a serious illness, first use yibao, dibao, medical assistance, and register for cross‑regional treatment — avoid online loans

There is no expense involved. The steps must be followed in order. First, before being hospitalized in another province, register via the “National Medical Insurance Administration” WeChat official account using the “National Cross‑Regional Medical Registration” mini‑program. Second, settle the bill directly upon discharge. Third, if the remaining amount after reimbursement is still unaffordable, apply to the local township government or subdistrict office for medical assistance. Fourth, employed individuals are entitled to a medical leave period ranging from 3 to 24 months during which they cannot be dismissed; workers suffering from work‑related injuries should turn to workers’ compensation. Fifth, if credit‑card payments cannot be met, proactively negotiate a repayment plan with the bank. Sixth, as a last resort, use a personal fundraising platform authorized by the Civil Affairs Bureau. The required documents are mainly medical diagnoses, expense lists, and settlement statements; you will need to make 2–4 trips. The difficulty lies in having to handle all these procedures while ill.

The state groups basic medical insurance, dibao, and medical assistance into what is known as the “triple safety net,” each layer providing additional protection. Eligible low‑income and extremely vulnerable individuals receive at least 70 % coverage for qualifying medical expenses. Even those who are not originally poor but become financially strained by illness may apply for extra aid. Proper pre‑registration ensures immediate post‑discharge settlement without needing to pay out‑of‑pocket first. The medical leave period lasts 3–24 months depending on length of service; during this time employers must retain employment and pay at least 80 % of the local minimum wage. Injured workers enjoy a “work‑rest period” of up to 12 months with full salary and benefits maintained by the employer. Credit‑card borrowers facing unmanageable debt may negotiate a customized repayment schedule with the bank, extending payments up to five years; once agreed, the bank must cease collection efforts. Only platforms expressly designated by the State Council’s Civil Affairs Bureau may solicit online donations, and they must verify the authenticity of each request before disbursing funds directly to the applicant.

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The exact percentage of medical assistance and its annual cap are set locally by each insurance region. The “medical leave period” is defined as the span during which an employee cannot be terminated due to illness; it is divided into six tiers based on total and company‑specific tenure. After this period ends, termination becomes legally permissible, so it is wise to know which tier applies to you. Emergency patients also fall under the registration requirement, though the official site does not clarify whether such cases are automatically covered or require retroactive filing; contact your local insurer for clarification. High‑interest online loans and private usury are strictly discouraged; courts only protect debtors up to four times the one‑year LPR rate (see item 15). Any amount exceeding this limit remains legally owed, though pursuing litigation while ill is impractical. In cases of acute, life‑threatening illness, emergency care must be rendered regardless of ability to pay; such costs are covered by the Emergency Medical Assistance Fund (see section 24, item 9). The original text of Ministry of Labor Decree No. 309 (1995) is unavailable on the Ministry’s website; the cited content is reproduced from a provincial labor authority source.