This　paper　investigates　the　household　response　to　health　shocks　and　the　mitigating　effect　of　broadband　infrastructure　using　micro　survey　data　from　the　China　Health　and　Retirement　Longitudinal　Study　(CHARLS).　This　study　contributes　to　the　literature　by　exploiting　the　“Broadband　China”　policy　to　address　endogeneity　issues　and　constructing　multidimensional　health　indicators　to　assess　the　distinct　effects　of　various　health　status　changes　on　household　outcomes.　We　find　that　household　income　from　agricultural　productivity　and　food　consumption　are　well　insured　against　health　shocks,　while　health　shocks　significantly　reduce　income　from　self-employed　activities　and　increase　nonfood　consumption.　In　addition,　our　findings　suggest　that　broadband　infrastructure　plays　an　important　role　in　reducing　the　negative　impact　of　health　shocks　through　two　important　channels:　optimizing　financial　asset　management　and　increasing　public　transfers　from　the　government.　These　findings　highlight　the　importance　of　broadband　development,　which　can　help　rural　households　better　cope　with　unexpected　health　shocks　and　reduce　the　likelihood　of　falling　into　poverty.　©　2024　Economic　Society　of　Australia,　Queensland