Abstract: Objective To explore the problems in cognition and utilization of indvidual account of medical insurance among employees in Shenyang city for making suggestions to solve the problems.Methods Using multistage random sampling method,we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey among 7 087 urban staff and workers in Shen-yang city.Results Among the employees surveyed,58.66%did not know that the medical insurance individual account could be used to pay the threshold cost of hospitalization;71.65%did not know the fund in the individual account could be accumulated with interest;and 73.15%did not know the savings in the individual account could be inherited.The ratio of the individual accounts with good utilization was 62.42%.Among the insured employees,14.72%did not use their individual accounts when visiting doctors in hospitals and 8.54%did not use the accounts when purchasing medicine.There were 39.18%of the insured employees suggesting to reduce the ratio of individual payment for medical insurance and only 6.62% being in favour of abolishing the individual account.Conclusion Knowledge and policies related to medical insurance individual account should be popularized and relevant management and supervision should be enforced to promote the untilization of medical insurance individual account among the insured employees.