Macao residents who live in Zhuhai's Hengqin New Area can apply for coverage of the city's basic medical insurance starting from July 1, according to a notice issued by the Zhuhai municipal people's government.

The piloting policy will be gradually promoted throughout the city to solve the problem of medical security for Macao residents who live in Hengqin, including the bonded area and the Hongwan area, as well as accelerate the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

According to the notice, Macao residents who live in Hengqin and have obtained residence permits, except those who are employed in Zhuhai and students who are studying at local schools, can apply for the basic medical insurance at the municipal social insurance agency with their residence permits as students, minors or urban and rural residents.

The funding criteria for the social security year of 2019 are: 180 yuan ($26.20) per year for students and minors; 410 yuan per year for urban and rural residents; and 590 yuan per year for financial subsidies.

Insurance contributions from individuals and financial subsidies are included in the unified management of the Zhuhai basic medical insurance fund. Registration, premium collection, and the payment of medical insurance benefits are handled by the city's tax authorities and social insurance agencies.

Eligible Macao residents are able to enjoy the same medical insurance treatment as Zhuhai residents.

After they submit the application, they can go to Bank of China branches in the city to apply for the social security card.

With the card, they can go to designated medical institutions in Zhuhai for medical treatment. The medical expenses can be settled through the one-stop network. Individuals only need to pay the expenses borne by themselves.

In 2018, the number of Macao residents covered in basic medical insurance through employment in Zhuhai was about 2,017, and that of Macao students was about 151. The basic medical insurance fund expenditure for Macao residents amounted to 3.63 million yuan.

Last year, about 1,007 Macao residents were hospitalized in Zhuhai, and the number of outpatient visits reached 36,589. However, there were only 349 inpatients and 4,408 outpatients who enjoyed the basic medical insurance benefits.

The policy will effectively protect the basic medical insurance rights of more Macao residents.

Wang Zongfan, director of the Medical Insurance Research Office of the Chinese Academy of Labor and Social Security, said that the pilot policy is a specific exploration and implementation of the state's support for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents who live in the mainland to participate in social insurance.

He added that the policy is also of great significance for the development of Macao residents in the mainland, promoting the economy of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as supporting the integration of Hong Kong and Macao into the overall development of the country.