If you can't afford to pay for employee medical insurance, can you quit?
Today, flexible employment has become a way of working for many people, who are like city rangers, without a permanent office and a stable source of income. This kind of freelance life sounds like a dashing life, but while enjoying the freedom, it also faces many challenges, one of which is how to deal with your social insurance.
Social insurance is a double-edged sword, on the one hand, it is an umbrella in the wind and rain, which can give you the necessary protection when you are sick or old. On the other hand, for those with unstable incomes, the cost of health insurance in the tens of thousands of dollars per year undoubtedly increases their financial burden.
As the saying goes, "people have no foresight, they must have near-term worries", in the face of high medical insurance costs, what should flexible workers do? If they can't afford it, can they quit?
The issue of insurance for flexible workers is like a mirror that reflects the shortcomings and challenges of the current system.
It is understood that the medical insurance fees paid by flexibly employed persons for urban workers are very expensive, and the annual fee is usually four or five thousand yuan, or even higher. This is undoubtedly a heavy burden for groups with irregular incomes. Their income is like a cloud in the sky, and sometimes it is difficult to find a suitable job for several months, which makes every payment a financial test.
At the same time, flexible employees observed that the individual payment standard for medical insurance for urban and rural residents is relatively low, only 380 yuan in 2023. This huge gap has made many people start to think about whether it is necessary to continue to bear the high cost of medical insurance for urban workers. After all, if they no longer choose to pay in the future, whether the fees accumulated over the years can be refunded has become a concern for them.
However, things are not as simple as some people think. Social medical insurance is different from general savings, and the funds paid into it are not deposited in the "small treasury" of individuals, but into the overall account of medical insurance. That is, when you are sick and hospitalized, you can get reimbursement from this fund, but if you are healthy, the money is like a seed planted in the ground, it is there, but it does not belong to you alone.
Such rules are undoubtedly a challenge for flexible workers. Because they are not just facing one-off financial pressures, but ongoing, cyclical financial planning issues. The annual insurance cost is like a mountain for them, both to climb and worry about slipping. Under such pressure, their choice becomes a complex trade-off: should they continue to carry the burden, or should they find a new way out?
According to the current regulations, once the medical insurance premiums paid by individuals are included in the medical insurance fund, this part of the funds is mainly used to share the medical risks of all insured persons and pay for medical expenses. If the individual is healthy and has no medical needs, the money will remain in the Medicare Fund for other insured persons in need. Therefore, these funds are not stored in the personal account in the form of a balance and cannot be refunded.
If it is indeed difficult for flexible employees to continue to bear the cost of employee medical insurance, they can consider adjusting the type of insurance, such as switching to urban and rural residents' medical insurance, where the individual contribution is relatively low. In addition, it is possible to pay attention to whether the local government has special medical insurance policies for flexible employees, such as reducing premiums and providing subsidies.
It is important to note that before choosing not to continue with the insurance or change the type of insurance, it is best to learn more about the local health insurance policy and consult a professional in order to make the most appropriate decision. At the same time, it is necessary to clearly understand that once the employee medical insurance is withdrawn or the payment is stopped, the corresponding medical insurance treatment will not be enjoyed, which is a risk that needs to be carefully weighed in the medical needs that may be faced in the future.
In the face of high health insurance costs, the mood of flexible workers can be said to be mixed. In fact, the social insurance system itself is trying to adapt to the special needs of the emerging group of people who are flexibly employed.
Some places have begun to introduce social insurance policies for part-time workers, such as flexible employment health insurance that allows for low insurance rates, or different levels of health insurance for individuals to choose from. This policy adjustment undoubtedly provides a glimmer of hope for flexible employees.
However, policy change does not happen overnight, and it takes time to make mistakes, adjustments, and refinements. Flexible workers also need more information and guidance to help them make choices that are in line with their circumstances. They need to understand the coverage of different types of insurance, the rate scales, and the possible economic impact in the long and short term.
epilogue
This discussion on social security is not only about insurance costs, but also about how to protect the rights and interests of individuals in the ever-changing labor market. The choice of flexible workers should not be just a reluctant compromise, but a wise and dignified choice.
