"We won't need to pay in advance for medical treatment in the future," said a resident surnamed Peng, who had just been discharged from Baotou Poverty Alleviation Hospital.

Peng is the first person to enjoy the new "one-stop" payment system for medical expenses after being discharged from a medical institution. The move is in line with the "Implementation Opinions on Improving the Medical Insurance and Assistance System for Serious Diseases" issued in Baotou on Jan 1.

Peng told the reporter that the total cost of his hospitalization was 3,840.34 yuan ($567). After the reimbursement of basic medical insurance and medical aid, the final personal cost was only 558.97 yuan.

In the past, when seeking medical treatment at a medical institution, individuals had to pay various expenses in advance and then go to the medical insurance agency with an invoice to get reimbursed.

Under the new system, the city has realized the seamless connection of basic medical insurance, serious illness insurance and medical payment.

If a resident is hospitalized at a designated medical institution in the city, when leaving the hospital, the patient only has to a portion of expenses, while a reimbursement will later be issued by the medical insurance handling department and the medical institution.