TITLE:
Social Determinants and Equity in Health Insurance Access: An Empirical Study Based on CGSS 2021 Data
AUTHORS:
Xiaochun Ding
KEYWORDS:
Health Insurance Equity, Social Determinants, Socioeconomic Status, Insurance Quality, Urban-Rural Disparity, Hukou, China
JOURNAL NAME:
Chinese Studies,
Vol.15 No.1,
January
6,
2026
ABSTRACT: China’s medical insurance system has reached near-universal coverage, yet disparities in access and quality persist. This study investigates how social structural factors shape coverage and quality in the Chinese context. Using 2021 China General Social Survey data (n = 8148), binary logistic regression was applied to basic and commercial insurance participation, and multiple linear regression assessed a composite quality indicator. Predictors included education, income, gender, household registration (hukou), and age. Basic insurance coverage was 94.3%, with education (OR = 1.180, p = 0.003) and income (OR = 1.281, p