ABSTRACT
Objective To find out whether the benefits entitled to peasants have increased since NRCM is in place in Beijing, and to analyze the extent of such benefit increase if any. Methods The first is to calculate changes to the reimbursement ratio of hospitalization charges for the peasants covered by NRCM; the second is to calculate the role played by NRCM for alleviating the catastrophic health expenditure of peasants. Results The reimbursement ratio of hospitalization charges for peasants covered by NRCM rose from 32.4% in 2004 to 45.4% in 2007. Survey data from districts and counties in the sampling test indicate that NRCM has gained an ever growing power in alleviating the catastrophic expenditure of peasants. Conclusion Recent years have witnessed a marked growth in medical charges, peasants' income, and peasants' demand for medical services. Against such a background, NRCM can still sharply downsize their catastrophic health expenditure, and its role keeps intensifying. This proves that the fund raising speed of NRCM has greatly outpaced the growth of medical charges and peasants' demand for medical services, and NRCM is playing a more effective role in alleviating the peasants from poverty caused by diseases.