Objective To have knowledge about the current status of urban and rural medical insurance in Guangzhou.Method A survey of hospitals

governments and patients related to medical insurance was conducted by such means as questionnaire

interview

conversation and observation and the like.Results Urban and rural medical insurance in Guangzhou had complete framework and broad coverage

and coverage rate of medical insurance for registered population reached as high as 88.4%.Persons who thought that the range of medicines and diseases reimbursed by medical insurance was narrow accounted for 89.0%;those who thought that the reimbursement procedure was complex and it took long time to complete the reimbursement accounted for 80.0%;those who thought that the reimbursement rate was too low accounted for 85.0%;and those who thought that it was difficult for migrant and non-registered population to join the medical insurance accounted for 64.0%.Conclusion Basic functions of the medical insurance await to be improved.