Abstract: Objective: The research aims to understand the meaning of self-management in elderly patients with chronic diseases from the perspectives of under new rural cooperative medical insurance. Methods: Totally 204 elderly patients with chronic disease were recruited from outpatient and ward of a second level hospital in Fangshan district by convenience sampling. Self-management behaviors of patients with chronic disease were estimated by Self-management Behavior Scale. Results: Elderly patients were lack of physical exercises; duration of exercise was well enough. The scores of cognitive symptom management and communication with physicians were poor. Age, gender, education, disease type, disease education were related to patients' self-management behaviors (P<0.05). Conclusion: Self-management behaviors of rural elderly patients with chronic diseases were poor. Education in strategies to implement self-management is needed for rural elderly patients.