Beijing’s disabled provided with free accident insurance

“We are exploring the new model of using commercial tools to improve the social welfare system for people with disabilities, and if it works out well, we will receive more financing from the government to continue the policy and expand the insurance coverage,” he said.

The busy traffic and thick crowds in public venues in metropolitan cities such as Beijing pose more potential risks for the disabled when they go out for social activities, which is why the introduction of accident insurance for this group is necessary, he said.

In the past few years, Beijing has done a great deal to encourage more disabled people to go out.

All parks, seven museums and 173 tourist attractions, including the Forbidden City, have removed admission fees for the disabled.

Since March, the disabled can take buses and the blind can use the subway for free.

“We aim to encourage more disabled people to go out,” Zhao said.

Jiang Donghuan, 44, who became disabled from rheumatoid arthritis in adolescence, said she was happy about the free insurance policy but urged the government to try harder to create a barrier-free society for the disabled.

“It’s impossible for me to go out without two people’s assistance. First, the residential building where I live has no elevators, and the ‘barrier-free buses’ are limited and usually too crowded. Most taxi drivers shy away from people like me because passengers in wheelchairs are an inconvenience to them,” she said.