The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps has announced a strategic initiative to establish a fully independent long-term care insurance system over a three-year period, designed to address the basic care needs of individuals with disabilities. This new framework is scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026, and will cover all demographic groups within the Corps' jurisdiction.

At a policy briefing held on August 18, Bian Lijuan, Deputy Director of the Corps' Medical Security Bureau, detailed the multi-source funding mechanism that will underpin the system. The financing structure will involve contributions from employers, individuals, government subsidies, and social participation, all operating under a national benchmark rate of 0.3%.

Different contribution rules have been established for various population segments. For employed workers, the total contribution rate is set at 0.3%, with employers and employees each bearing 0.15% on a monthly basis. Retirees will pay a personal contribution rate of 0.15%, which can be deducted directly from their basic medical insurance personal accounts.

Unemployed urban and rural residents will share the financial burden equally with the government at a 1:1 ratio, paying annually. The combined rate for 2027 will be 0.15%, increasing by 0.05% each subsequent year until gradually reaching the 0.3% benchmark. For 2027, the annual personal contribution for residents is set at 25 yuan.

Flexible employment personnel will have the autonomy to select their participation pathway. They may either enroll under the same terms as employed workers or opt for the policies applicable to unemployed urban and rural residents, with the caveat that once chosen, switching to the employee-based category is not permitted.

Bian Lijuan emphasized the system's commitment to supporting vulnerable groups, stating that full financial assistance will be provided for individual contributions from those in extreme poverty. Additionally, eligible disadvantaged groups, including recipients of subsistence allowances and elderly individuals from low-income families, will receive an 80% subsidy on their contributions.

Regarding eligibility for benefits, Zhou Feixiang, Director of the Corps' Medical Security Management Center, outlined two fundamental requirements. First, applicants must be properly enrolled and making regular contributions. Second, they must have experienced a disabled state lasting more than six consecutive months, confirmed through the official disability level assessment process.

The benefit structure incorporates differentiated payment rates based on both insurance status and care delivery method, with no deductible threshold. Those enrolled under employee policies, including retirees, will receive fund payment ratios of 75% for home or community-based care and 70% for institutional care. Residents enrolled under the resident policy will receive 55% coverage for home or community care and 50% for institutional care.

Bian Lijuan further explained that the Corps will adopt the nationally unified disability assessment standards and operational guidelines, ensuring strict oversight of the entire fund management process. The implementation will include the deployment of a unified national information subsystem for long-term care insurance, enabling intelligent processing across all stages from benefit applications and disability assessments to settlement and regulatory supervision.