21社论丨推行长期护理保险制度破解失能照护难题

Core Viewpoint - The issuance of the "Opinions on Accelerating the Establishment of a Long-term Care Insurance System" marks the transition of the long-term care insurance system from pilot programs to nationwide implementation, establishing it as the sixth social insurance in China, alongside pension, medical, unemployment, work-related injury, and maternity insurance [1][2]. Group 1 - The long-term care insurance system aims to establish a comprehensive framework by the end of 2028, focusing on shared responsibility and equitable treatment mechanisms [1][2]. - The new system addresses the care risks for disabled and cognitively impaired elderly individuals, which have historically been borne by families, thereby alleviating the economic and caregiving burdens on families [1][2]. - The establishment of this insurance system is expected to create new industries and job opportunities, particularly in the development and rental of assistive devices [2]. Group 2 - The long-term care insurance system is characterized by universal coverage and urban-rural coordination, ensuring that all insured individuals can access benefits from a unified funding pool [2]. - Challenges include a significant gap in service supply, with only 12,000 designated institutions and just over 10,000 certified caregivers available for millions of disabled individuals [3]. - The system's success will depend on creating a closed loop of "funding-service," addressing the imbalance between institutional care and community-based services, and ensuring the sustainability of funding [3].