The Chinese government will promote the merger of basic employee health care insurance and maternity insurance, according to a document issued by the State Council.

According to the policy, the maternity insurance fund will be merged into the employee basic health care fund. The two funds will be raised together, and individuals won’t be required to pay a premium for maternity insurance.

Services provided by the two insurance programs will be subject to unified regulations. When health care regulators sign contracts with registered health care institutions, maternity service should be added to the contracts.

The clearance system of maternity insurance can be temporarily reserved but should be combined with the health care clearance system when the time is right.

Maternity insurance benefits should be unchanged after the integration, which includes maternity service fees and allowances, according to the social security law. Those benefits will be paid by the basic health insurance fund.

Local governments should improve collaboration of the two funds after the merger, research the impact of demographic trends on the expense of maternity insurance, and prevent risks.