I've asked this question and have receied the "no answer thing", no one seems to know anything about it where I work. Maybe it is like slow running water, it will take a long time to spread from Beijing to other cities! I really think someone who reads our concerns and knows what is going to happen should let us know, maybe it needs to be made official before someone can do this Yes?

The new legislation doesn't only concern foreigners but also Chinese, especially the Chinese with a different hukou from the place they are currently living and working. It's therefore a legislation that is thought to provide pension and health insurance benefits to any employee or worker on a national level and not only on a private level.

Even if you decide to opt for an International Health Insurance, it's unfortunately not related to this piece of legislation as it concerns you privately. It's like if you decide to make your own private pension plan; the fact that you have your private pension plan doesn't dispense you from contributing to the "national" pension plan.

If you just want your International Health Insurance, then it's not possible according to the new legislation. However, you are allowed to have both simultaneously. What you have to understand is that with the new law, a foreigner is allowed to receive treatment and be refunded by the company as any other local Chinese when he/she is sick providing that, like local Chinese, you go to a public hospital and make line for several hours to get your number or run tests, etc. While with your International Health Insurance, you can go to any hospital allowed by your insurance company, which often includes private hospitals and also foreign-owned hospitals.