7 national subsidies available for cancer patients in 2026
On the road to fighting cancer, economic burden is a real challenge faced by many patients.
In 2026, the country introduced special subsidy policies for cancer treatment at multiple levels, including medical insurance reimbursement, civil affairs assistance, and charity support, to effectively alleviate the pressure of medical treatment on the public.
As a provincial-level specialized institution for tumor prevention and treatment and the only Grade A tertiary specialized hospital for oncology in the province, the Hainan Cancer Prevention and Treatment Center, Hainan Cancer Hospital/Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Hainan Medical University provides professional medical services while offering one-stop access to services related to preferential policies for outpatient chronic and special diseases, hospitalization, and major illness insurance reimbursements.
This article systematically organizes various preferential policies for the people, including medical insurance reimbursement, medical assistance, and special assistance for women with cervical and breast cancer. Eligible patients are advised to promptly consult and apply for these benefits, so as not to miss out on any subsidies intended to benefit the public.
① Basic medical insurance: the most fundamental protection
Basic medical insurance serves as the first line of defense for cancer patients. Since January 1, 2026, the new version of the National Medical Insurance Drug List has been officially implemented, adding 114 new drugs, including 36 new oncology drugs, covering over 20 common cancers such as lung cancer and breast cancer. Currently, there are approximately 270 anticancer drugs listed in the directory. As long as you are an insured person, both inpatient and outpatient treatments can be reimbursed according to regulations.
② Outpatient chronic and special diseases and hospitalization: all are reimbursable
1. For outpatient chronic and special diseases, outpatient treatment can also be reimbursed
After being diagnosed with malignant tumors, patients need to go through the identification procedures at our hospital or at a secondary or higher-level hospital with the qualification for special outpatient treatment. After completing the identification, they can enjoy the reimbursement benefits for special outpatient treatment for chronic diseases. The expenses for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, endocrine therapy, as well as related examinations and medications, can all be included in the reimbursement scope, and one-stop instant settlement can be achieved.
Employee medical insurance: 85% reimbursement for tertiary hospitals, 90% for retirees, and a shared annual maximum of 260,000 yuan for hospitalization;
Urban and rural residents' medical insurance: 65% reimbursement at tertiary hospitals, with a shared annual maximum of 150,000 yuan for hospitalization;
Deductible: Level 3: 200 yuan.
2. Hospitalization reimbursement: Hospitalization treatment provides a more direct way to reduce financial burden
During hospitalization in our hospital, both employee medical insurance and urban and rural residents' medical insurance are eligible for corresponding reimbursements according to the third-tier hospital level. The coverage limit for employee medical insurance is 260,000 yuan, while that for urban and rural residents' medical insurance is 150,000 yuan.
Employee medical insurance: 85% for tertiary hospitals, 88% for secondary hospitals, and 90%-95% for primary hospitals
Urban and rural residents' medical insurance: 65% for tertiary, 75% for secondary, and 80%-90% for primary
3. Major illness insurance: secondary reimbursement to further reduce burden
After basic medical insurance reimbursement, the deductible for urban and rural residents' medical insurance is 8,000 yuan, and for employee medical insurance, it is 6,000 yuan. Once the deductible is met, the second-round reimbursement of critical illness insurance can be initiated, further reducing the pressure of high treatment costs. The annual maximum reimbursement is 300,000 yuan.
Friendly reminder: Secondary reimbursement for critical illness insurance can be directly settled in a one-stop manner at our hospital, without the need for separate application. All reimbursement procedures will be completed simultaneously upon discharge.
4. Special assistance for "two cancers": cervical cancer / breast cancer
Applicable objects: Women with difficulties such as those with registered residence in Hainan, those living in extreme poverty, those receiving minimum living allowances, and those under anti-poverty monitoring;
Assistance standard: Subsidy of 20,000 yuan per person for malignant tumor diseases, and subsidy of 3,000-10,000 yuan per person for precancerous lesions, with a maximum annual total of 40,000 yuan;
Application deadline: By December 31, 2026, submit your application through "Haihuibang / Multi-level Medical Assistance Platform".
5. Medical assistance: basic security for vulnerable groups
For vulnerable groups such as extremely poor individuals and recipients of minimum living allowances, the state provides medical assistance. After reimbursement through basic medical insurance and critical illness insurance, the portion of personal expenses within the policy scope that exceeds a certain percentage will be subsidized at a rate not lower than a certain percentage. Specific standards vary from place to place, and inquiries can be made to local medical insurance or civil affairs departments.
6. Mutual assistance and security for unionized employees
Employees can participate in the mutual medical insurance scheme through their respective trade unions. Eligible employees can submit application materials to their affiliated trade unions. For specific policies and application procedures, please consult the local trade union.
7. Local charity and special relief projects
In addition to policies at the national level, there are also special relief projects carried out by charitable organizations in various regions. These projects usually have specific application conditions and time windows, so it is recommended to pay attention to the announcement information of local charitable organizations and keep abreast of the application status.
Please pay attention to the highlighted points
The process for handling medical insurance for outpatient services, hospitalization reimbursement, and special assistance for critical illnesses and cervical and breast cancer:
01 Confirmed case filing
Complete the tumor diagnosis directly at our hospital (with Grade II or above qualification), and then apply for the registration of outpatient chronic and special diseases for malignant tumors through the hospital's medical insurance office or the "National Medical Insurance Service Platform APP". The application will be reviewed by hospital experts, entered online, and take effect immediately.
02 Standardized treatment
Our hospital has established a dedicated outpatient oncology special service, and for inpatient services, we have opened a direct medical insurance settlement channel, ensuring a one-stop settlement process throughout the entire process, eliminating the need to pay large amounts upfront.
03 Synchronized application
During their treatment at our hospital, individuals from disadvantaged groups can simultaneously apply for civil medical assistance. Women who meet the criteria for assistance related to cervical and breast cancer should promptly submit their applications on the designated platform, and the hospital's medical insurance office can provide consultation and assistance.
04 Expense Settlement
When discharging from our hospital or making payment, basic medical insurance and critical illness insurance will automatically be reimbursed in a combined manner, with the system calculating the total amount at one time. The individual only needs to pay the deductible, which saves both time and effort.