China's Rapid Response to the Pandemic: 17 Rapid Diagnostic Kits Launched Within 9 Days and Innovations in Payment Solutions

The current outbreak has presented everyone with a very practical question: Where should patients with suspected or confirmed novel coronavirus pneumonia receive treatment, and how should medical expenses be covered?

First, it is necessary to clarify the classification of the novel pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan. On January 20, the National Health Commission issued Announcement No. 1, classifying pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus as a Class B infectious disease under the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, while implementing prevention and control measures applicable to Class A infectious diseases; furthermore, it placed pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus under quarantine management for quarantinable infectious diseases as stipulated in the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People’s Republic of China.

Pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus infection has been included in the statutory management of infectious diseases. People's governments at all levels, health administrative departments, other government departments, and medical and health institutions may, in accordance with the law, adopt a series of prevention and control measures, such as isolation treatment for patients and isolated medical observation for close contacts, to jointly prevent and control the spread of the pneumonia epidemic caused by novel coronavirus infection.

The National Healthcare Security Administration conducted a special study on ensuring medical treatment and support for patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia, requiring the nationwide healthcare security system to implement the “Two Guarantees” policy: ensuring that patients receive timely treatment without being hindered by cost concerns, and ensuring that designated medical institutions are not constrained in providing care due to regulations on global budget management under medical insurance.

In light of the characteristics of this outbreak, the National Healthcare Security Administration has decided to implement special reimbursement policies for patients diagnosed with “Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia” and other related conditions.

First, all drugs and medical service items covered by the National Health Commission’s “Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia” are temporarily included in the scope of reimbursement by the basic medical insurance fund.

Second, ensure timely payment of patients’ medical expenses, particularly by leveraging the safety-net role of medical assistance funds to alleviate patients’ concerns about seeking care. For patients receiving cross-regional medical treatment, provide treatment first and settle payments later; discontinue the practice of reducing reimbursement rates for out-of-area referrals, thereby reducing infection risks associated with patient mobility.

Third, for hospitals designated for centralized treatment, the medical insurance authorities will provide advance payments to alleviate the financial burden of upfront costs borne by the hospitals, and patients’ medical expenses will no longer be included in the hospitals’ global budget control targets.

According to People's Daily, on the afternoon of January 21, the Wuhan Municipal Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Epidemic Prevention and Control Command held a press conference.

Addressing online claims that suspected cases are struggling to secure hospital admission, Peng Houpeng, Deputy Director of the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, stated that Wuhan is currently facing a unique situation characterized by concurrent high incidence rates of influenza and novel coronavirus infection, which has posed significant challenges for hospitals in admitting patients. Fortunately, Wuhan boasts abundant medical resources. In accordance with the treatment protocol jointly formulated by national, provincial, and municipal authorities, the city has implemented a strategy of concentrating patients, resources, experts, and treatment efforts. Three designated hospitals in Wuhan have allocated 800 beds for patient admission. Additionally, other directly affiliated medical institutions will soon free up 1,200 beds to support patient care, ensuring timely admission and treatment for all patients.

Peng Houpen also introduced that under the previous policy, for all confirmed patients, apart from medical insurance reimbursement, the government covered all remaining medical expenses. To strengthen epidemic prevention and control efforts, further regulations have now been implemented stipulating that the government will also cover outpatient fees for all patients under observation at fever clinics. As a result, patients essentially incur zero out-of-pocket costs for both outpatient and inpatient care.

Guangdong Province ranked second in the number of confirmed cases, following Hubei Province. On the 21st, the Guangdong Provincial Government held a press conference to brief on the status of the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak and response measures, implementing seven key strategies to prevent further spread of the epidemic.

In terms of isolation treatment and case management, Guangdong Province is establishing and improving medical treatment operational mechanisms. It has designated 30 provincial-level hospitals across the province as specialized facilities for treating novel coronavirus pneumonia, covering all 21 cities in the province. Among these, Guangzhou has 8 hospitals, Shantou and Zhanjiang each have 2, and the remaining cities each have 1.

Guangdong will strictly implement the “four concentrations” principle—concentrating patients, experts, resources, and treatment—to ensure that confirmed cases are treated at designated hospitals, thereby making every effort to reduce the case fatality rate and minimize the incidence of severe cases. Cities currently free of outbreaks have also deployed comprehensive emergency prevention and control preparedness measures.

Meanwhile, other provinces and regions rapidly established special task forces or expert panels for the prevention and control of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus infection, designated designated hospitals, and carried out monitoring, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and case management.

In addition to the government’s “safety net,” multiple insurance companies have simultaneously activated emergency response plans for novel coronavirus pneumonia to proactively address the epidemic.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd.’s subsidiaries in life insurance, property and casualty insurance, pension, and health care promptly activated their emergency response plans for major public health incidents.

First, launch 24/7 online services, enabling customers to complete claim reporting and applications online via the Ping An Life Jin Guan Jia APP and the WeChat “An E Pei” mini-program;

Second, provide dedicated claims assistance and guidance. For customers with suspected or confirmed diagnoses, Ping An Life Insurance will assign a dedicated representative to offer end-to-end guidance on the claims process upon receiving the relevant information.

Third, we will open a green channel for claims settlement. In accordance with the relevant coverage under medical insurance and critical illness insurance policies, the Company will expedite processing through this green channel to complete claim payments at the earliest opportunity.

Fourth, launch the special-case advance payment service. For customers in urgent need of funds, the company will provide advance claim payments through a dedicated channel to alleviate their financial burden during medical treatment.

Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance has established a special task force, removed restrictions on designated hospitals, opened a green channel for online claims settlement, proactively provided advance payments for confirmed partial losses, and conducted regular proactive follow-up visits.

Establish an emergency leadership group. In accordance with the coverage and exclusions of Taikang Life’s medical insurance, pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus falls within the scope of compensation under Taikang Life’s medical insurance.

In response to the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) outbreak, Taikang Life Insurance has implemented the following measures: The head office has activated its emergency response plan, and special task forces have been established in Hubei, Shenzhen, Beijing, and Guangdong to coordinate customer claims processing; a green channel for reporting COVID-19 cases has been opened; proactive outreach has been conducted to medical insurance authorities, hospitals, and agents to identify insured customers from patient lists and provide proactive claims services; a policy-free claims service has been introduced, waiving the requirement to present an insurance policy for all claimants; claims procedures have been simplified for customers experiencing death, disability, or critical illness due to the disease by reducing required documentation; restrictions on hospital tiers specified in policy terms have been removed; and a 24-hour customer reporting hotline (95522) has been made available.

China Pacific Insurance (CPIC) has established emergency response task forces in the relevant regions, maintaining close coordination with partner institutions such as hospitals. The company is proactively obtaining lists of affected patients through multiple channels. Customers who have purchased CPIC’s medical insurance products and incur covered losses will receive comprehensive and convenient claims services. For medical expenses incurred by customers due to these diseases, CPIC will proactively advance or promptly pay claim benefits once the expense amounts are confirmed, in accordance with policy terms. In special emergency situations, cash payments may be made to meet customer needs.

PICC Life Insurance has established a special task force for claims handling and assigned dedicated personnel in key regions to manage claims services for such patients. A green channel for expedited claims processing has been opened for policyholders with medical insurance who are confirmed or suspected cases.

Huaxia Life Insurance stated that for suspected or confirmed cases, the company will expedite processing through a green channel, assign dedicated personnel to provide end-to-end guidance on claims, and settle payments at the earliest opportunity.

Xintai Insurance’s currently available medical products, including the “Xintai Ruyi Bao Medical Insurance,” “Xintai Additional Anxiang Wuyou Hospitalization Expense Compensation Medical Insurance,” and “Xintai Additional Anxiang Wuyou Hospitalization Allowance Medical Insurance,” provide coverage for liabilities related to novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19). Furthermore, for deaths listed in official announcements issued by authoritative government departments, death benefits may be paid in advance, with supplementary documentation to be submitted subsequently.

As a representative of internet-based insurance companies, ZhongAn Insurance has actively responded to the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak. ZhongAn has established an emergency task force to provide customers with simple, fast, warm, and convenient services:

First, a 24-hour customer claims reporting and consultation hotline has been established. Customers can report claims and seek consultations through various channels, including ZhongAn Insurance’s national unified customer service hotline at 1010-9955, the official ZhongAn Insurance website (https://www.zhongan.com), and the “ZhongAn Insurance” WeChat official account.

Second, launch an emergency medical advance payment service to proactively disburse claim payments for applications falling within the scope of insurance coverage, thereby meeting treatment needs.

Third, streamline the claims process, establish a green channel, and complete claim settlements within 3 hours.

Fourth, remove medication restrictions to prioritize treatment efficacy, with 100% reimbursement of related medical expenses.

To proactively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, WeSure promptly established an emergency response task force. Currently, all medical insurance products offered by WeSure cover insurance liabilities for COVID-19 (Weiyibao·Million Medical Insurance, Weiyibao·Long-term Medical Insurance, Weiyibao·Outpatient Medical Insurance, and Quanminbao·Inclusive Hospitalization Medical Insurance).

To provide insurance coverage and services to insured individuals diagnosed with novel coronavirus pneumonia at the earliest opportunity, WeSure, in collaboration with its partner insurance companies, has developed an emergency response plan that offers customers the “WeSteward” Green Channel service:

First, claims consultation services are available. You may report a claim and seek claims-related advice by calling the WeSure customer service hotline at 400-931-9966, contacting online customer service via the WeSure mini-program, or reaching out to your dedicated WeSure account manager.

Second, launch a green channel for claims processing. For customers with suspected or confirmed diagnoses, WeSure will expedite handling through this green channel, assign dedicated specialists to provide end-to-end guidance on the claims process, and facilitate prompt settlement of benefits.

Third, remove restrictions on designated hospitals. Claims will be reimbursed as long as the customer receives treatment at a nationally recognized accredited hospital and the expenses fall within the scope of insurance coverage, without being limited to the designated hospitals specified in the insurance contract.

Fourth, the claims waiting period is waived. If customers are diagnosed with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) after purchasing WeSure’s medical insurance products (WeMed Million Medical Insurance, WeMed Long-term Medical Insurance, WeMed Outpatient Medical Insurance, and Quanminbao Inclusive Hospitalization Medical Insurance), the 30-day waiting period will be waived, and claims will be processed directly.

Extraordinary Epidemic, Extraordinary Response. Real-time updates on the progress of epidemic prevention efforts, lists of designated hospitals, and dynamic solutions to the outbreak are now available in VCBeat’s Special Pro section. Scan the QR code to view.

VCBeat / Yang Xue, Jiao Yanli, Gao Daolong, Liu Zongyu