Chinadaily.com.cn (26.03.2026) China has formally launched a national long-term care insurance program after a decade of pilot programs, establishing what it calls a "sixth pillar" of social security to ease the burden on families caring for a rapidly aging population. The framework, issued in a joint guideline by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, sets a three-year target to build a unified system covering the entire population, regardless of employment status. It follows pilot programs that have covered more than 3.3 million disabled individuals and reduced caregiving costs by over 100 billion yuan ($14.5 billion), according to official data. The insurance is designed to provide services and financial support for daily and medical care for people with sustained disabilities, typically lasting six months or more. The rollout will start with severely disabled individuals and expand over time.