COVID-19 Impact, Medical Insurance System, and Health Equity

Abstract Background The widespread outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant threat to human health. In the context of Healthy China, enhancing residents' health performance is an inevitable choice to promote the equalization of public medical and health services. Methods This article utilized online survey data, employs the O-probit model and Health Equity Gap Model to empirically analyze the relationship between COVID-19 infection, the medical insurance system, and health equity. Results Findings revealed that as of mid-January 2023, the nationwide infection rate of COVID-19 in China is 82.34%, with 24.86% of respondents reporting the loss of relatives or friends, and the average age of death being 71.30 years old. In terms of impact of COVID-19, Chinese residents are most concerned about the future impact of COVID-19 on their health and work. Compared to the Urban-Rural Resident Medical Insurance in China, the Urban Employee Medical Insurance is more effective in alleviating the negative impact of COVID-19 infection on residents' health, especially for middle-aged and elderly individuals, rural residents, those with chronic diseases, and in the eastern regions of China. Urban Employee Medical Insurance improves residents' health by influencing their drug purchase amount and outpatient visits following the impact of COVID-19. If Chinese residents receive the same treatment as Urban Employee Medical Insurance, their health would improve by 0.240 units, equivalent to 56.21% of the actual health gap between different medical insurance coverage groups. Conclusions Compared to the Urban-Rural Resident Medical Insurance, the Urban Employee Medical Insurance is more effective in mitigating the negative impact of COVID-19 infection on residents' health. Under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, different medical insurance systems have widened the health gap between urban employees and rural residents.