China's basic medical insurance program covered more than 95 percent of its population,or about 1.28 billion,by the end of 2011,said Minister of Health Chen Zhu."Coverage in rural areas reached 97 percent,exceeding the 89 percent reported for urban areas," Chen said at a national health work conference on January 5-6.In 2003,55percent of urban citizens and 21 percent of rural residents were covered.