New health insurance for students: Ensuring legitimate rights

GD&TĐ - Entering the new school year, health insurance policies for students have been actively implemented by the Education sector in coordination with Social Insurance.

Schools also step up propaganda and mobilize social resources to support health insurance cards for disadvantaged students.

Actively promote new policies

The Social Insurance of Ca Mau province has issued a document guiding the health insurance premium (HI) for pupils and students from July 1, 2025. Accordingly, the HI contribution for each student after receiving 50% support from the central budget is 631,800 VND/person/year. In addition, based on Resolution No. 14 dated December 11, 2024 of the People's Council of Ca Mau province (old) which is still in effect, students in Ca Mau province will receive an additional 20% support from the local budget.

Mr. Lam Van Tinh - Principal of Ly Thuong Kiet Primary School (Tan Thanh, Ca Mau ) said: "Before starting the new school year, the school specifically informed parents about the health insurance policy in many forms, ensuring that all parents clearly understood and allowed their children to participate according to regulations.

This year, students who are subject to health insurance after receiving support from the State only pay 30% of the health insurance value, so all parents are excited. The school is committed to implementing the collection of health insurance fees and issuing free health insurance cards to policy beneficiaries in accordance with regulations. In addition, in the new school year, the school will mobilize organizations and philanthropists to support giving health insurance cards to students in difficult circumstances," Mr. Tinh informed.

Ms. Tieu Kim Yen, who has two young children studying at Tan Hai Primary School (Phu Tan, Ca Mau), said that the school had provided her with specific information about the health insurance premium, payment period, and payment method.

“Hearing the news that tuition fees are exempted, and the school announced that the health insurance premium has been reduced to 30% after receiving support, my family is very excited, partly reducing the cost of education for our children, especially at the beginning of the new school year. I also realize that it is necessary for my children to participate in health insurance to ensure good health care, so I always fully participate in paying health insurance for my children,” the parent shared.

Located in a mountainous area, Thuong Giao Secondary School, Cho Ra Commune ( Thai Nguyen ) has 100% ethnic minority students, including 75 students from poor and near-poor households. Mr. Nong Trung Hieu - Principal of the school said that the school has been implementing the propaganda work on student health insurance since the beginning of the school year. Of which, about 70% of the school's students are eligible for free health insurance cards.

For the remaining students, the school encourages parents to voluntarily participate in health insurance for their children to ensure full rights to medical examination and treatment. “Thanks to the active participation of teachers and the Parents’ Association, the participation rate reaches 100% every year,” said Mr. Nong Trung Hieu.

Propaganda about the Law on Health Insurance for students of Cua Nam 1 Primary School (Thanh Vinh Ward, Nghe An). Photo: Ho Lai

Mobilizing support resources

Many schools in Ho Chi Minh City, with the support of organizations and philanthropists, have implemented a number of health insurance programs for students in difficult circumstances. At Dien Hong Secondary and High School (Dien Hong Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), Mr. Nguyen Tien Tan - Principal of the school said: "In the 2025 - 2026 school year, the whole school has more than 1,500 students, an average of about 8 - 10% of students are in difficult circumstances. If these students have difficulty participating in health insurance, the school will mobilize benefactors to support to ensure that 100% of the school's students participate."

Similarly, at Phuoc Thanh Primary School (Thai My, Ho Chi Minh City), the school mobilized social resources to give health insurance cards as a meaningful gift at the beginning of the new school year to students. “This is an annual activity of the school. In fact, at the beginning of the school year, parents have many things to worry about for their children. Therefore, the school always actively mobilizes donors to support health insurance cards to ensure 100% of students participate,” said Mr. Nguyen Tan Toi - Principal of the school.

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Primary School (Thong Tay Hoi Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) has more than 1,300 students this school year. Of which, about 30% are students who follow their parents to the locality to temporarily reside in jobs such as small traders, workers, hired workers, lottery ticket sellers, etc. Ms. Do Thi Mai - Principal said: "For students with difficult circumstances, the school mobilizes donors to give health insurance cards. In any case that is missing, I will use my own money to support to ensure that 100% of students participate in health insurance."

In Ca Mau province, the provincial Social Insurance also has specific instructions on health insurance contribution levels for students after administrative merger.

“Educational institutions in Ca Mau province are responsible for implementing the contribution levels, support levels, and local budget support so that parents and students are informed. In cases where students are in difficult circumstances and do not have health insurance cards, educational institutions will coordinate with local authorities to mobilize donors and benefactors to buy health insurance cards for students to ensure that 100% of the school's students are issued health insurance cards and receive health care,” informed Mr. Le Hung Cuong - Deputy Director of Ca Mau Province Social Insurance.

Presenting health insurance cards to students of Nghi Phu 1 Primary School (Vinh Phu Ward, Nghe An). Photo: NTCC

Efforts to cover health insurance

In the 2025-2026 school year, Hoang Van Thu Primary School, Binh Gia Commune, Lang Son Province has a total of 218 students, of which 97% are Nung, Tay, Muong, Dao ethnic groups. Mr. Luan Van Quynh - Vice Principal said that implementing health insurance for students has been identified as an important task since the beginning of the school year.

“The school assigned homeroom teachers and school health staff to coordinate in widely propagating to students and parents about the benefits of health insurance. Thanks to close and effective coordination, over the years, the rate of students participating in health insurance has always reached 100%,” Mr. Quynh shared.

Currently, students participating in health insurance are divided into many groups, including those who are exempted from fees or receive 70% support, and the remaining few students who have to pay fees according to general regulations. However, most parents are fully aware of the role of health insurance for their children's health and actively participate fully.

Xa Luong Secondary School (Tuong Duong Commune, Nghe An) has mostly ethnic minority students. In recent years, despite the school's efforts in propaganda work, the rate of students participating in health insurance has only reached over 80%.

Sharing this, Ms. Nguyen Thi Dung - Principal said that previously, the school in Xa Luong commune had met the new rural standards, so many villages outside of the III region were particularly disadvantaged. This led to students in the above villages not being able to enjoy the Government's subsidy policy on boarding and health insurance.

“There is a paradox, when the commune “escaped poverty” but the economic conditions of students’ families are still difficult, the mentality of waiting and relying on the State’s support, so parents do not voluntarily pay for health insurance. The school has coordinated with the health sector and local authorities to actively promote so that parents can participate in health insurance for their children, ensuring the rights of students to health care. However, to reach 100%, it will take time to change the awareness of parents and students,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Dung shared.

According to the Principal of Xa Luong Secondary School, this school year, with the new policy of supporting 50% of health insurance costs for students, it is a great joy and reduces pressure for students of schools in difficult areas. Especially those who participate in voluntary health insurance are not eligible for free health insurance cards.

In the 2024-2025 school year, Nghe An has more than 732,000 students participating in health insurance, reaching a rate of 98.88%. The whole province still has more than 8,000 students who have not participated in health insurance, which means they have not enjoyed the benefits of the State's health insurance policy. Recently, Nghe An Provincial Social Insurance and Nghe An Department of Education and Training issued inter-sectoral guidelines on implementing health insurance for students.

Including information on new premium levels, health insurance support levels for each group of students and benefits when participating in health insurance. At the same time, clearly assigning responsibilities to each related unit to coordinate effective implementation, especially when operating a 2-level local government.

Promote and innovate the content and form of health insurance policy propaganda, especially targeting parents and students through mass media, social networks, and Youth Union and Association activities. Strengthen the application of information technology in health insurance card management and issuance, and connect data with schools and the health sector. Continue to reform administrative procedures in a simple and convenient manner, creating conditions for students to easily access and participate in health insurance.

Lao Cai province is simultaneously implementing a peak period of propaganda on health insurance for students. Accordingly, the provincial Social Insurance and local Social Insurance will organize "Stands of propaganda on health insurance for students" at schools in the area. Thereby, directly consulting and answering questions about social insurance and health insurance policies; concentrated propaganda during extracurricular activities of the school; introducing features and utilities of the VssID application - Social Insurance number, guiding parents and students to install and use it to access information and perform public services quickly and conveniently. The goal is for 100% of students to participate in health insurance in the 2025 - 2026 school year.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/bao-hiem-y-te-moi-cho-hoc-sinh-sinh-vien-bao-dam-quyen-loi-chinh-dang-post747669.html