Perceived experiences of long-term care services among long-term care insurance beneficiaries and their family members: A qualitative interview study in Hunan Province, China

Objectives The long-term care insurance (LTCI) system is a social security program that aims to address population aging and protect the basic living rights of individuals with disabilities. Since the pilot implementation of this system in 13 Chinese cities in 2016, the LTCI system has received increasing scholarly attention. This study explores the experiences of beneficiaries and their families with the LTCI system. Methods In this study, qualitative research methods, specifically face-to-face interviews and inductive content analysis, were employed to explore the experiences and perceptions of LTCI beneficiaries and their family members. From August to December 2024, the researchers interviewed 13 LTCI beneficiaries and their families living in Hunan Province. Data were collected via semistructured in-depth interviews. These interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Results The following five themes were identified. 1) The long-term care service application process is convenient. 2) The disability level assessment process is difficult. This theme includes three subthemes: unclear disability-level assessment criteria, a cumbersome disability-level assessment process, and a lack of professionalism among disability-level assessors. 3) Long-term care services are imperfect. This theme encompasses three subthemes: the limited scope of care services; insufficient care resources; and uneven caregiver quality, including a lack of standardized criteria for service evaluation. 4) The economic burden of long-term care has been alleviated. 5) Expectations regarding LTCI services are positive. Conclusions The findings of this study improve our understanding of LTCI participants and their family members. These insights can help the Chinese government develop more detailed support strategies and interventions, thereby improving the quality, professionalism, and scope of long-term care services while promoting the implementation of LTCI policies.