Starting from September 1 this year, students can take part in the medical insurance. Each month they only have to pay 4.2 yuan per head. With this insurance their medical expenses can be reimbursed against a specified ratio when they are hospitalized with serious illnesses.

　　Let's first make clear what kind of students can take part the medical insurance. Basically, all full-time students in Ningbo, including pupils, middle school students university students and even overseas students can be covered by the medical insurance. Only two types of students can not take part in it, which are graduating students of high schools and vocational schools and graduating students of colleges and universities.

　　Chen Ying, Deputy Chief, Medical Insurance Management Center: As those students are graduating, they are not students any more after September 1. So they can not join in the medical insurance. But for those students in Grade 3 of senior high schools who are going to attend universities in Ningbo, they can take part in it when they become the freshmen in Ningbo-based universities.

　　The insurance premium each student has to pay is 100 yuan per year, half of which needs to be paid by the student and half to be subsided by the government finance. The insurance policy gives special consideration for students from poverty-stricken families. Those students of urban areas conforming to the following four circumstances can enjoy the free insurance benefits.

　　Chen Ying, Deputy Chief, Medical Insurance Management Center: The four categories are respectively students from families living on basic living allowances, and families enjoying special social subsistence, handicapped students and students from families receiving veterans’ special treatment.

　　The student medical insurance is available for underwriting once a year. The time for underwriting this year is from May 4 to May 25. After paying the insurance premium, students can enjoy the medical benefits from September 1. But at the initial period, the insurance shall only cover hospitalization and clinical treatment of special illnesses, excluding average outpatient service. For hospitalization expenses below RMB 10,000 yuan, 30% of it will be borne by the student; for expenses between 10,000 and 20,000, the student will pay 25%; for expenses between 20,000 and 40,000 the student will pay 20%; for expenses between 40,000 and 100,000, the student will pay 15%.