Do not miss the annual 400‑yuan payment for basic medical insurance; subsidies are available for low‑income households

Cost: Each individual must pay at least 400 yuan per year. This is the national standard for 2024 and 2025; local authorities may set higher amounts. Payments must be made during the designated annual enrollment period. Extremely disadvantaged individuals receive full government funding, while recipients of dibao get a fixed subsidy from the state.
In plain terms: Individuals must pay a minimum of 400 yuan each year, and the government adds roughly 700 yuan per person as a subsidy. Those in extreme hardship get the full amount covered, while dibao recipients receive a set contribution. Missing a payment has consequences: anyone who fails to enroll during the enrollment window or who interrupts payments faces a three‑month waiting period before coverage takes effect; each additional year without payment adds another month to that waiting period.
Benefit: In addition to the individual contribution, the state provides a per‑person subsidy. For 2024 this amount is no less than 670 yuan, and for 2025 it rises by 30 yuan to at least 700 yuan, while the personal payment remains at a minimum of 400 yuan (as stated in Notice No. 22 of 2025 issued by the National Healthcare Security Administration). The 2026 government work report indicates a further increase of 24 yuan. For dibao recipients and extremely disadvantaged individuals, after standard yibao reimbursement, a medical assistance program covers at least 70 % of any remaining eligible expenses. The main drawback of missing payments is the aforementioned waiting period before benefits become active.
Evidence grade: A
Sources:国家医保局 (2024). 《关于做好 2024 年城乡居民基本医疗保障有关工作的通知》政策解读（医保发〔2024〕19 号）. https://www.nhsa.gov.cn/art/2024/8/26/art_105_13634.html；河北省医疗保障局等 (2025). 关于做好 2025 年城乡居民基本医疗保障有关工作的通知（冀医保发〔2025〕6 号，地方文件）. https://www.renqiu.gov.cn/renqiu/ybjbmwj/202510/6d90754638a248cba655e94ea518a3bb.shtml；安徽省医疗保障局等 (2025). 关于做好 2025 年城乡居民基本医疗保障有关工作的通知（淮北市医保局转载）：「按照国家医保局、财政部、国家税务总局《关于做好2025年城乡居民基本医疗保障有关工作的通知》（医保发〔2025〕22号）要求」「居民医保人均财政补助标准较上年提高30元，达到每人每年不低于700元」. https://ybj.huaibei.gov.cn/zcwj/zcwj/58004084.html；国务院办公厅 (2021). 关于健全重特大疾病医疗保险和救助制度的意见（国办发〔2021〕42 号）. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2021/content_5659514.htm；国务院办公厅 (2024). 关于健全基本医疗保险参保长效机制的指导意见（国办发〔2024〕38 号）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202408/content_6965741.htm；国家医保局 (2026). 2026 年政府工作报告提到这些医保工作. https://www.nhsa.gov.cn/art/2026/3/5/art_14_19809.html
Notes: The 2025 notice from the National Healthcare Security Administration (Notice No. 22) does not appear on the Administration’s official website or on the Chinese Government website. Both Hebei and Anhui provinces cite figures of 700 yuan and 400 yuan in their local regulations, with Anhui explicitly referencing the same notice. While receiving unemployment benefits, an individual’s employer‑based medical insurance is paid by the unemployment fund, so there is no need to enroll separately in yibao.