BEIJING, China: China is moving to strengthen support for its aging population by rolling out a nationwide long-term care insurance system to ease pressure on families and expand social welfare coverage.

The plan, released by China's State Council, will provide services or financial support for basic nursing and medical care for people with disabilities who have been disabled for six months or more.

State news agency Xinhua described the initiative as a key component of China's social security system and an important step toward "actively addressing population aging."

The announcement follows commitments made earlier this month at China's National People's Congress to refine policies for seniors, including pension financing, healthcare, and wellness support.

China is facing mounting demographic pressure. By 2035, the number of people aged over 60 is expected to reach 400 million, roughly equivalent to the combined populations of the United States and Italy. At the same time, hundreds of millions are projected to exit the workforce, placing additional strain on pension systems.

A declining population compounds the challenge. China's population fell for a fourth consecutive year in 2025, as the birth rate dropped to a record low.

The new insurance framework sets a three-year goal to establish "a unified system covering the entire population." It builds on pilot programs that have been running since 2016.

Officials said the scheme is designed to address essential care needs for disabled individuals and improve their quality of life.

"Bathing, haircuts, eating, dressing changes, these are no ⁠longer distant hopes for those confined to a sickbed, but rather bedside, accessible, attentive care," said Wang Wenjun, deputy head of the National Healthcare Security Administration during a press conference on Thursday.

Funding for the system will come from a mix of employer and individual contributions, along with government subsidies, with a total contribution rate of about 0.3 percent.

Authorities said residents in both rural and urban areas will draw from the same pool of funds and receive equal benefits.

China continues to face disparities in healthcare access between urban and rural regions, and officials have pledged to "markedly narrow" that gap by 2035.