Presenter: Associate Professor Zhang Yi (Central University of Finance and Economics)

Host: Xie Mingjia, Assistant Professor (Li Anmin Institute of Economics, Liaoning University)

Guest Introduction: Xie Mingjia, Assistant Professor (Li Anmin Institute of Economics, Liaoning University)

Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025, 10:00 - 11:30 (Beijing Time)

Location: Conference Room on the First Floor of Wuzhouyuan, Chongshan Campus, Liaoning University

Online address: Tencent Meeting 846-7809-5157

Language: Chinese/English

Abstract: Forgone healthcare use is commonly believed to threaten public health and individual well-being. This study examines the impact of China’s Catastrophic Medical Insurance (CMI) scheme on forgone healthcare use among older rural and urban residents. We find that CMI significantly reduces forgone care, particularly that caused by household financial difficulties, and that this effect persists over time. CMI does not lead to substantial moral hazard or changes in realized healthcare use, but it lowers health risks, reduces out-of-pocket inpatient costs for high-risk individuals, and promotes more cost-effective use of healthcare services.

Speaker Profile:

Zhang Yi is an associate professor at the Center for Human Capital and Labor Economics of Central University of Finance and Economics. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from Tilburg University in the Netherlands in 2020. His current research interests include health economics, labor economics, and education economics. His research has been published in journals such as the Journal of Health Economics, Health Economics, World Development, and China Economic Review.