2,000 billion to support health insurance for 2.7 million people, readers praise the 'humane and meaningful' policy

Ho Chi Minh City will spend more than VND2,000 billion from the budget to support the entire health insurance premium for more than 2.7 million people, including students and people aged 65 to under 75. This policy has been welcomed and supported by many readers.

Medical staff at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City guide patients to medical examination - Photo: THUY DUONG

The policy of Ho Chi Minh City to support 100% of health insurance premiums for students and people from 65 to under 75 years old is attracting the attention of many readers.

In just a few days, many comments were sent to Tuoi Tre Online, showing the special level of interest of the people in this social security policy.

Hearing that Ho Chi Minh City supports 100% health insurance "made me cry tears of joy"

Many people called this a "humane" and "meaningful" policy of the city. Reader Thanh Van expressed: "This is good news for many people in Ho Chi Minh City, including my mother." Similarly, reader tran****@gmail.com exclaimed: "Great news."

Reader Thanh also supports this because it is a "very civilized policy". Reader Gia Huy said: "The elderly have many illnesses, and now the city gives them health insurance cards, which is truly a great joy".

Reader Dinh Duong expressed his feelings: "Reading this made me cry with joy! My family has parents and 3 grandchildren who all qualify. That means we save several million each year. Thank you Ho Chi Minh City."

"A humane and practical policy that warms the hearts of many families," a reader wrote briefly. For families with school-age children, this policy significantly reduces the financial burden. Many parents said they have to pay over 600,000 VND per child each year, often at the beginning of the school year when expenses pile up. "Not having to pay anymore would be a relief," one parent said.

Many opinions consider this an important step forward for Ho Chi Minh City in taking care of social security. For people, especially students and the elderly, this policy not only helps reduce the burden of expenses but also creates a feeling of being cared for and shared.

Mr. PTT (Long Truong Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) said his family has three children going to school. Each child has to pay 631,800 VND for health insurance every year, usually collected at the beginning of the school year when the family has many other expenses. "No need to pay anymore, each year I save nearly 2 million VND. The burden is much lighter," Mr. T. shared.

Reader with account 1966****@gmail.com shared: "I hope other localities will do the same."

From the perspective of the health sector, Mr. Vo Duc Chien - Director of Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital - said that there were many cases of patients in difficulty being admitted to the emergency room but did not have health insurance cards and the hospital had to support the purchase of cards for the patients.

Therefore, Ho Chi Minh City paying 100% of health insurance premiums for students and people aged 65 to under 75 (who are not yet entitled to other support policies) will help reduce the burden on people and limit the situation of patients without cards when needing medical examination and treatment.

Where do students contact for refund?

However, along with the joy, many readers are concerned, especially about the refund of health insurance premiums paid for the 2025-2026 school year. Questions raised by readers: "Will students who have paid get a refund?", "How will the school handle the collection from September?", "Will family health insurance premiums be refunded?"...

Similar is the question of a reader named Thanh: "The policy is very civilized. But will the elderly and students who have paid insurance premiums since November 2025 get a refund?"...

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thanh, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance, said that according to the resolution just passed by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, when a student's current health insurance card expires, the city budget will pay to issue a new card.

Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance has not received any money or list from schools related to student health insurance in 2026. Therefore, regarding the refund or handling of previous collections from the school (if any), parents are requested to contact the school for resolution.

According to Mr. Thanh, the current health insurance cards for students are valid until the end of 2025. From January 1, 2026, when schools make a list of students participating in health insurance, the central and city budgets will pay 100% of the contribution according to the resolution.

Mr. Thanh also said that the resolution stipulates that all students studying at educational institutions in Ho Chi Minh City are eligible for this support policy.

More than 2 million students and more than 670,000 elderly people are exempted from health insurance.

Previously, on November 14, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council passed a resolution on the policy of supporting health insurance premiums for two groups of people, including students and the elderly. Accordingly, both groups will be supported 100% of the health insurance premiums, meaning they can participate in health insurance completely free of charge.

Specifically, people aged 65 to 75 who have not yet benefited from other health insurance support policies will have their entire premiums paid by Ho Chi Minh City. For students studying at educational and training institutions, 100% of the support will come from the Ho Chi Minh City budget.

The new policy is expected to benefit more than 2.7 million people, including more than 676,000 seniors and 2.03 million students.

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THUY DUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/2-000-ti-ho-tro-bao-hiem-y-te-cho-2-7-trieu-nguoi-ban-doc-khen-chinh-sach-nhan-van-nghia-tinh-20251116143109911.htm