Health insurance - A social security support for the poor

In the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction, health care for the poor is one of the important pillars. In Tay Ninh, the health insurance policy has become a "shield" to help thousands of poor and near-poor households overcome the risk of illness, gradually improving their quality of life. With the strong participation of the government, the health sector and the community, many health insurance cards have been given to people in difficult circumstances, creating a solid foundation on the path to escaping poverty.

Social security "shield"

Along with efforts to reduce poverty sustainably, health care for the poor has become a central and urgent task. In particular, health insurance is considered a "pillar of social security" to help poor and near-poor households have timely access to health services.

Therefore, supporting health insurance has humane significance, helping poor and near-poor households have more support to overcome difficulties and reduce the burden of medical examination and treatment costs.

Localities mobilize many resources to support people in difficult circumstances to participate in health insurance.

Sharing about the role of health insurance for the poor, Deputy Director of the Department of Health Nguyen Hoang Uyen said: "Health insurance policy is an important solution to ensure fairness in health care.

For poor and near-poor households, the province always prioritizes allocating maximum support resources; mobilizing organizations and businesses to join hands to give health insurance cards to especially difficult cases. Thanks to that, people can access full and timely medical services without worrying about costs exceeding their ability.

Health insurance not only helps people overcome immediate difficulties but also creates conditions for them to actively participate in economic activities, study and improve their quality of life. A healthy person with adequate health care will have better ability to work and take care of their family. That is the long-term value of health insurance in the goal of sustainable poverty reduction.

In fact, in many localities, the health insurance policy for poor, near-poor and disadvantaged households is increasingly implemented effectively. Local authorities regularly review and make lists of poor, near-poor and disadvantaged households to support timely issuance of health insurance cards, and at the same time, widely and deeply propagate so that people clearly understand their rights and proactively participate in family health insurance when possible. Thanks to that, many poor patients feel secure in their treatment and stabilize their lives.

Thanks to health insurance, many poor patients and those in difficult circumstances can feel secure in their treatment.

In a small house at the end of the alley, Mrs. Pham Thi Hieu (residing in Tan An ward) emotionally talked about the health insurance card she was given: “I have had bone and joint diseases for many years, making it difficult for me to move around. Thanks to the health insurance card, each re-examination only costs a few thousand dong. Without the health insurance card, I would have endured the pain and not dared to go to the hospital. I am very happy and touched to receive such attention from the State!”

Not only Ms. Hieu, many poor, near-poor and disadvantaged households in the province also shared the joy of receiving health insurance cards from support sources. Mr. Le Van Tam (residing in Thu Thua commune) shared: “I had a work accident and had to undergo surgery at a high cost. Without the health insurance card to support the treatment costs, my family would have had to borrow money. The health insurance card really saves the lives of many families in difficult circumstances like mine.”

For the poor, the health insurance card not only provides financial support but is also a “lifesaver” that helps them go to medical facilities when they are sick. Ms. Nguyen Thi Muoi (residing in Long Huu commune) emotionally said: “Before, I really wanted to buy health insurance but my circumstances were so difficult that I didn’t have enough money. Since the commune supported me with a free health insurance card, I am very happy! Thanks to the health insurance card, I don’t have to worry about medical expenses every time the weather changes.”

100% of poor and near-poor households have health insurance

Implementing the Government's regulations on health insurance support, from 2021 to 2024, Long An Provincial Social Insurance has issued 218,560 health insurance cards to the poor, near-poor and people living in coastal communes, with a total cost of VND 185,177 million.

In the 2021-2025 period, Long An province (before the merger) issued 52,655 health insurance cards to poor households (VND 45,159 million) and 137,226 cards to near-poor households (VND 115,736 million), reaching 100% of the health insurance participation rate of poor and near-poor households.

In Tay Ninh province (before the merger), the health insurance card support policy was promoted according to Resolution No. 45/2022/NQ-HDND. The provincial budget supported 30% of the card value for near-poor households, 70% of the card value for agricultural - forestry - fishery households with average living standards and 100% of the card value for poor households.

Thanks to that, in the period of 2021-2025, the province supported 46,086 health insurance cards with a total cost of nearly 37.5 billion VND, contributing to maintaining a high health insurance coverage rate and ensuring that no one is left behind. This is an important resource, helping the poor proactively take care of their health, reduce the burden of medical examination and treatment costs and gradually escape poverty sustainably.

The medical examination and treatment process is increasingly improved, creating convenience for participants, especially vulnerable groups.

In order to ensure social security and effectively implement the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction, in recent times, localities have mobilized many resources to support people in difficult circumstances to participate in health insurance. The granting of health insurance cards has been maintained annually in many places, becoming a humanitarian activity at the beginning of the new school year, on holidays, Tet or the Peak Month for the Poor.

In My Hanh commune, from 2024 to now, the local government has mobilized organizations, businesses, and philanthropists to donate more than 200 health insurance cards to people in difficult circumstances, especially students. Thereby, not only helping children access medical services when needed but also reducing the financial burden on their families, while contributing to raising awareness of health protection from an early age.

Along with expanding health insurance coverage for poor, near-poor and disadvantaged households, the health system in the province is constantly innovating to improve service quality. Hospitals, regional health centers and health stations are actively improving medical examination and treatment procedures, applying information technology to reduce waiting time, creating convenience for people. These changes help health insurance participants, especially the disadvantaged, to have more confidence in the health insurance policy and boldly go to medical facilities when necessary.

Looking back at the journey of implementing the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction over the past years, it can be seen that health insurance is one of the pillars that has a direct and long-term impact on the lives of the poor. The efforts to increase the rate of health insurance coverage, care for the right subjects and expand socialized resources have helped thousands of poor people overcome illness, maintain family economy and achieve poverty reduction.

The health insurance cards have a profound humanitarian meaning, becoming a fulcrum to help the poor reduce the burden of medical expenses and be more confident on their journey out of poverty. This is also a clear demonstration of the province's efforts in the goal of multidimensional poverty reduction, towards a society where all people have access to equitable and sustainable health care services./.

Huynh Huong

Source: https://baolongan.vn/bao-hiem-y-te-diem-tua-an-sinh-cho-nguoi-ngheo-a207710.html