长护险为失能老人撑起保障伞

Core Insights - The increasing aging population in China has led to a growing demand for long-term care insurance, which is seen as a crucial innovation in the social security system to address the challenges of elder care and improve public welfare [1][2] Expansion and Effectiveness of the System - Since the pilot program began in 2016 with 15 cities, the long-term care insurance (LTCI) system has expanded to 49 cities by 2020, covering nearly 190 million people and accumulating over 100 billion yuan in funds, with expenditures exceeding 85 billion yuan [2][3] - The 2023 government work report emphasizes accelerating the establishment of the LTCI system, indicating a clear signal for faster implementation compared to previous years [2] - The LTCI system has alleviated the financial and emotional burdens on families caring for disabled elderly individuals, while also stimulating the development of the elder care service industry [2][3] Service Innovation and Accessibility - Various regions have innovated service models to enhance convenience and precision, such as Shandong province's mobile application for LTCI claims, allowing families to apply easily [3][4] - The LTCI policy has attracted approximately 60 billion yuan in social capital investment, promoting the growth of care service institutions and related industries [3] Talent Development and Service Quality - The LTCI pilot has led to the emergence of the "long-term care worker" profession, with around 300,000 individuals engaged in this field nationwide [4][5] - Efforts to improve service quality include training programs and competitions to enhance the skills of caregivers [4][6] Challenges and Future Development - The LTCI system faces challenges such as varying levels of professionalism among service providers and a workforce that is aging and lacks formal education [6][7] - Experts suggest strengthening nursing education and improving compensation to attract younger talent for sustainable development of the LTCI system [6][7] Mechanism and Long-term Sustainability - The transition from pilot programs to a nationwide system requires addressing funding balance and fairness, as many pilot cities rely heavily on "medical insurance fund transfers + fiscal subsidies" without a sustainable funding mechanism [7][8] - Experts advocate for a dual-pillar system combining social insurance and commercial insurance to meet diverse care needs, with government support and commercial supplements [7][8] - The National Healthcare Security Administration has issued guidelines to standardize service provider behavior and enhance fund supervision, accelerating the integration and refinement of the LTCI system [8]