Xinhua News Agency Authoritative Express | Ministry of Civil Affairs and others regulate the pre charge of elderly care institutions

On May 10, the reporter learned from the regular press conference of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in the second quarter of 2024 that seven departments, including the Ministry of Civil Affairs, recently issued the Guiding Opinions on Strengthening the Supervision of Pre charge of Aged Care Institutions.

The opinion encourages elderly care institutions to provide services to the elderly by charging fees in the current month. It is required that the elderly care institutions that adopt the pre charging method should do a good job of publicity. The provincial civil affairs department may, according to the local situation, determine the maximum advance collection period of the local elderly care service fees and the maximum advance collection amount of deposits and membership fees together with relevant departments, but the maximum advance collection period of the elderly care service fees shall not exceed 12 months, and the deposit charged for a single elderly person shall not exceed 12 times the monthly bed fee of the elderly person. The deposit and membership fee shall be managed by means of third-party deposit and risk deposit of commercial banks to ensure the safety of funds.

The opinion also stipulates the use purpose of the fees collected in advance by pension institutions. The opinion is clear that the fees collected in advance by the elderly care institutions are mainly used to deduct the fees that the elderly need to pay during their stay in the institution, make up for the lack of funds for the establishment of the institution, or develop the elderly care service business of the institution. Membership fees shall not be used for high-risk investments such as non self use real estate, marketable securities and financial derivatives. An elder service institution shall not induce the elderly or their agents to pay the advance charges by promising to repay the principal and interest or giving other investment returns.

In terms of refund, the opinion requires that the elderly care institutions should refund the fees collected in advance that meet the refund conditions agreed in the service agreement in a timely manner as agreed, without rejection or delay. If an elder service institution suspends or terminates its service due to closure or other reasons, it shall issue a reminder of changes in its business status 30 days in advance at its service place, portal website and other prominent locations, return the remaining fees in a timely manner, and properly solve the subsequent service problems.

Reporter: Gao Lei, Wang Ziming

Editor: Yang Yang

Designer: Pan Yijing

Produced by Xinhua News Agency at home