What changed
Enrollment opened on 4 November 2026 for Beijing Inclusive Health Insurance’s 2027 coverage year. The annual premium remains 195 yuan, while cumulative coverage is 3.5 million yuan.
The plan adds 17 specialty drugs, bringing its drug list to 165 medicines across 94 diseases. It also adds cancer and Alzheimer’s screening, plus a 24-hour AI health assistant. Enrollment closes on 31 December, with coverage running from 1 January through 31 December 2027.
Why it matters
The important shift is not simply a larger drug list. The plan is moving part of its value upstream, from paying after illness to helping identify risk earlier. Its new screening services cover several major cancers and cognitive decline, while the AI service offers round-the-clock consultation, report interpretation and chronic-disease management.
Continuity also matters. People who remain continuously insured can keep health-person treatment standards even if they later develop a serious illness. Those with valid 2024–2026 policies and no claims receive a lower out-of-pocket threshold for non-covered hospital costs, along with one free service such as dental care, health screening or a home first-aid kit.
The early take-up was striking: more than 1 million people enrolled in the first six hours. Since the programme began, it reports more than 19.8 million cumulative enrolments and more than 740,000 claimants, with the highest single payout reaching 935,000 yuan.
That makes the unchanged 195-yuan price more consequential than it looks. The programme is trying to widen access to expensive treatment while adding everyday support, including five free health services and up to 1,800 yuan in annual medicine discounts. Whether the expanded benefits remain financially sustainable is not yet quantified, but the direction is clear: Beijing is using supplementary insurance as a bridge between basic coverage, costly specialty medicines and preventive care.
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