The General Office of China's State Council has released a set of guidelines on improving long-term participation in basic medical insurance.

According to the guidelines, China will encourage people already covered by the basic medical insurance program, which covers 1.334 billion, or over 95 percent of the population, to continue participating without quitting.

According to the guidelines, starting in 2025, people who have continuously participated in the program for four years can receive an incentive for each year of further continuous participation, which is a yearly increase of at least 1,000 yuan ($140) of their maximum insurance payout limit for major illnesses.

From next year, people who participate in the basic medical insurance program but have not used any medical insurance fund reimbursements during the whole year can have the maximum payout limit for major illnesses increased by at least 1,000 yuan ($140) in the following year.

The guidelines also states that from 2025, people who have once quit the basic medical insurance program will need to wait at least three months after the insurance is resumed before they can get reimbursed again.

Fan Weidong, an official with the National Healthcare Security Administration, said at a press conference on Thursday that such policies are aimed at protecting the interests of all people participating in the basic medical insurance program and sustaining the stable operation of the medical insurance funds.

The guidelines were adopted at a State Council executive meeting in June.