Beijing initiates accident insurance for 3m elderly  

北京为300万老人定制意外险 逛公园摔伤可获赔

(ECNS) -- The Beijing municipal government gave the capital's 3 million elderly people a special gift on Wednesday in the form of low premium accident insurance, according to a Beijing Times report on Thursday.

The program aims to improve the social security network for the elderly, and help them to avoid exposure to accidental injury, according to Li Hongbing, spokesman for the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau, which released the new policy Wednesday.

The new insurance policy allows residents over 50 years old in Beijing to be covered by a maximum payout of 200,000 yuan ($32,827) for accidental injury while taking public transportation, visiting parks and other public places, or participating in officially organized social activities.

According to the policy, seniors who work or live in Beijing, no matter where their households are registered, can benefit from the policy. Every senior citizen in the city can get access to the insurance by paying a premium of only 15 yuan ($2.50) a year.

Meanwhile, people over 60 years old whose households are registered in Beijing but are in financial difficulty can get access to the insurance for free, and their annual premiums will be paid by the municipal government. Under the policy, more than 70,000 seniors, including childless people and seniors receiving low-income allowances, will be covered by the insurance.

Residents can get more details about the policy by calling the hotline at 95519.