WeSure Launches 'Yaoshenbao': A RMB 1/month Innovative Insurance Plan Bridging the Last-Mile Gap in Access to Anti-Cancer Specialty Drugs

Malignant tumors have become one of the major public health issues threatening the health of the Chinese population. Cancer treatment costs are generally high. Although national social insurance has broad coverage, reimbursement is still restricted by formularies; certain highly effective imported drugs or out-of-pocket medications are not covered, and there are annual reimbursement caps, resulting in significant protection gaps. The high cost of medication, difficulty in accessing drugs, and challenges in maintaining continuous treatment have become widely recognized pain points for cancer patients.

VCBeat has learned that WeSure, Tencent’s insurance platform, has launched the “MediGuard·Specialty Cancer Drug Coverage Plan” (hereinafter referred to as “MediGuard”), an innovative insurance product specifically designed to address this pain point, positioning it as a pioneer in China’s commercial specialty drug insurance market.

For many cancer patients, the high cost of anticancer drugs is an unavoidable issue during treatment. With the widespread adoption of the "precision medicine" concept, an increasing number of targeted therapies and immunotherapies have been approved and launched in recent years, offering hope to cancer patients. However, behind their remarkable efficacy lies a staggering price tag.

At the State Council executive meeting held in 2019, it was proposed to accelerate the registration and approval of overseas anti-cancer new drugs to meet patients’ urgent needs. This also means that an increasing number of oncology specialty drugs already marketed abroad will enter China at an accelerated pace in the future. However, a “happy problem” has emerged: who will foot the bill for these costly specialty drugs?

CHINAVBAO’s innovative “Yao Shen Bao” effectively supplements the national medical insurance scheme by providing specialized coverage for high-cost anti-cancer specialty drugs to cancer patients. The Basic Plan of “Yao Shen Bao” costs RMB 1 per month and covers all 12 high-priced anti-cancer specialty drugs currently excluded from the social security reimbursement list, offering two years of drug supply coverage and related services following a cancer diagnosis. The Enhanced Plan provides three years of coverage, with premiums starting at RMB 6 per month. It covers all anti-cancer specialty drugs currently approved for introduction in China, and its scope of coverage will be automatically updated in sync with the national list of approved specialty drugs to include newly approved anti-cancer medications.

It is reported that “Yao Shen Bao” was officially launched on April 25. To ensure a better user experience, this product continues WeSure’s consistent invitation-only model and is initially available to invited users. Users who have not yet received an invitation can make a free reservation by searching for the “WeSure” mini-program.

Of the 48 new drugs approved for marketing by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in 2018, 18 were anti-tumor agents; however, only three were included in the special negotiations for inclusion in the national medical insurance reimbursement list for anti-cancer drugs in 2018. For each new drug, the journey from market approval to inclusion in the medical insurance scheme is a protracted process of negotiation and strategic maneuvering. For cancer patients, time is like sand slipping through one’s fingers—fleeting and irretrievable.

The extensive coverage of new drugs is a major feature of “Yao Shen Bao.” The basic version of “Yao Shen Bao” includes 12 drugs that are currently marketed in China but not listed in the national social insurance drug catalog. The upgraded “Drug List” not only covers 18 new anti-cancer drugs launched last year, but also prominently features pertuzumab, which was approved for marketing in China less than six months ago, as well as four PD-1 inhibitors already available on the market.

The drug formulary for commercial health insurance is not only “new” but also potentially more up-to-date in real time. Although the establishment of a dynamic adjustment mechanism for the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) has entered an accelerated phase, the massive undertaking of “making room for new entries by removing outdated ones” cannot be accomplished overnight. In contrast, the drug formulary updates for “Yao Shen Bao” benefit from the advantage of “small boats being easier to maneuver,” offering greater dynamism and flexibility. Once new drugs or new indications are approved, they can be incorporated promptly. “Yao Shen Bao” commits to updating its drug list in line with advances in medical practice, with the updated list remaining applicable under currently valid insurance contracts.

Liu Jiaming, CEO of CHINAVBAO, stated, “The high cost and supply challenges associated with specialty oncology drugs require concerted efforts from all sectors of society to support social insurance and alleviate patients’ burdens. ‘Yaoshenbao,’ jointly launched by CHINAVBAO, Taikang Online, and MediTrust Health (a subsidiary of Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Group), delivers an exceptional product experience through a model of ‘social insurance plus RMB 1.’ This initiative aims to help build a multi-tiered medical security system, making the inclusive ‘Yaoshenbao’ service accessible to millions of households.”

“Taikang Online upholds a philosophy of continuous product innovation, leveraging insurance’s role as a healthcare payer and working closely with CHINAVBAO and MediTrust Health to enable more users to benefit from inclusive commercial insurance. Join for just one yuan to prevent cancer before it arises,” said Liu Dawei, CEO of Taikang Online.

Of course, targeted therapies for cancer are not miracle cures and cannot treat all diseases. Due to the heterogeneity and dynamic evolution of cancer cells, resistance develops with nearly all targeted drug treatments. Once resistance emerges, therapeutic efficacy is compromised. Given individual variations in patients’ physical conditions, so-called “miracle drugs” for cancer are not suitable for every patient. Only by actively adhering to standardized treatment under proper medical guidance can patients hope to overcome cancer.

Ensuring medication access is only one aspect; “Yao Shen Bao” is not content to merely act as a “cashier,” simply handling reimbursement for medical treatments and prescriptions. Before the launch of “Yao Shen Bao,” other commercial insurance products or mutual aid plans on the market failed to integrate all links between insurance and drug supply. As a result, they could only address users’ reimbursement needs, but fell short in tackling the comprehensive challenges posed by the high prices and long-term availability of specialized anticancer drugs. Leveraging Tencent’s internet DNA and its positioning as a connector, WeSure has bridged insurance companies with the pharmaceutical supply chain, enabling drug suppliers to serve more users through the leverage effect of insurance.

“Yao Shen Bao” optimizes the combination of commercial medical insurance, oncology medical services, and specialty drug services, addressing the challenge of covering out-of-hospital medication purchases that general consumer-oriented commercial health insurance fails to insure. It is reported that MediTrust Health, the drug supply partner for “Yao Shen Bao,” is currently the company in China with the largest number of exclusive collaborations with global top-tier pharmaceutical companies on oncology specialty drug programs, thereby ensuring the highest possible quality of drug supply and service standards. MediTrust has partnered with DTP (Direct-to-Patient) pharmacies—pharmacies capable of directly providing specialty drugs to patients—covering more than 30 provinces, over 200 cities, and 700 pharmacies across China. By directly managing its terminal network, MediTrust Health can fulfill medication supplies based on patient needs.

After the patient is diagnosed by a professional medical institution and issued a compliant prescription, upon submission of the medication application, MediTrust Health will complete the prescription review within one business day leveraging its comprehensive pharmaceutical service network. It will then arrange for medication pickup or home delivery based on the patient’s appointment preferences, with no upfront payment required from the patient. "MediTrust Health Insurance" offers two flexible medication supply options tailored to the user’s specific circumstances: for in-hospital medications, post-treatment reimbursement claims are supported; for out-of-hospital medications, direct payment at pharmacies is available, allowing patients to either pick up their medications independently or opt for home delivery.

From international practices, the management of specialty drugs through chain retail pharmacies, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), and insurance companies, along with information assessment of usage volume, efficacy, and user feedback, is a standard norm in a mature industry chain.

As deep partners, innovative pharmaceutical companies also welcome the advantages of commercial health insurance in integrating and connecting resources from various parties against the backdrop of a changing survival environment. Within the limited patent period of drugs, pharmaceutical companies can cooperate with commercial insurance companies to bring new drugs to benefit more patients in need as soon as possible, without having to squeeze onto the "single-plank bridge" of medical insurance.

Zhang Xiaodong, CEO of MediTrust Health, stated, “While cancer may be inevitable, it is not something to fear. Upholding our corporate spirit of ‘service as honor,’ MediTrust Health strives to make the most advanced anti-cancer specialty drugs accessible to the broadest possible user base, thereby benefiting the public. Through this collaboration with CHINAVBAO and Taikang Online Insurance, we hope to foster a scientific approach to cancer prevention and treatment among the Chinese population, enabling everyone to join for just one yuan and unite in the fight against cancer.”

As Hu Jinglin, Director of the National Healthcare Security Administration, emphasized at the National Healthcare Security Work Conference earlier this year, “The government’s primary task is to ensure basic coverage and provide a safety net, focusing more on offering essential support in times of need. In contrast, commercial health insurance should explore new markets according to market rules, focusing more on enhancing existing coverage to meet diverse and differentiated needs.” The future medical payment market in China should not be a simple case of “rendering unto God what is God’s, and unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.” Instead, each sector should focus on its respective strengths, thereby providing the public with more payment options, which is the true essence of the matter. By anchoring itself to social insurance and positioning as “Social Insurance +1,” “Yaoshenbao” (Drug God Insurance) not only achieves greater economic efficiency but also represents a more realistic path aligned with China’s actual conditions.