Changing health insurance examination location: People can choose and there is no fee

BHYT - Ảnh 1. — People get medical check-ups at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: TU TRUNG

This policy helps people access health services more easily and conveniently, while affirming the commitment of the social insurance sector to take people as the center of service.

Call the hotline if asked to pay a fee

Since 2025, health insurance participants have had many new benefits, including the right to proactively choose and change their initial medical examination and treatment location every quarter without any fees.

According to Article 26 of the 2024 Law on Health Insurance and the guidance in Circular 01/2025/TT-BYT dated January 1, 2025 of the Ministry of Health , when there is a need to change the place of registration for health insurance examination and treatment, people can submit their application directly to the Social Insurance agency where they reside or submit it online via the Vietnam Social Insurance Public Service Portal. For employees, they can register through the employer.

Notably, according to Article 44 of the 2024 Law on Health Insurance and Circular 01/2025/TT-BYT, this procedure is completely free.

"People have the right to choose a medical examination and treatment facility that suits their travel conditions, health and circumstances. All procedures for changing medical examination and treatment facilities are carried out free of charge. If an organization or individual requests a fee, people need to immediately notify the local Social Security or call the hotline 1900.9068 of Vietnam Social Security to protect their rights," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Social Security.

At the same time, Ms. Hang added that there are currently no regulations allowing service collection organizations to carry out procedures to change the initial medical examination and treatment registration place of health insurance participants.

Service organizations authorized by the Social Insurance Agency to collect voluntary social insurance and family health insurance are only allowed to collect money when people register to participate in new family health insurance, renew family health insurance cards, or when people have a need to participate in voluntary social insurance.

"HCMC Social Insurance continuously inspects the collection service centers. If violations are detected, they will request refunds to the people and terminate the contract with the collection service center," Ms. Hang added.

People should proactively look up health insurance information.

Health insurance policy is an important social security policy, guaranteed by the State so that all people can access medical services at reasonable costs.

To ensure their rights, people should look up information about their health insurance card online (validity of health insurance card, validity of 5 consecutive years, place of initial medical examination and treatment facility registration...) through the VssID application - Social Insurance number or access the Vietnam Social Insurance's electronic information portal: https://baohiemxahoi.gov.vn.

Previously, the HCM City Social Security also warned people against impersonating the Social Security to commit fraud. Accordingly, people absolutely must not provide personal information, ID card/CCCD number, Social Security book number, bank account number to strangers claiming to be Social Security officers. Do not click on links, do not download applications from strange messages.

When performing administrative procedures on social insurance and health insurance, if you encounter difficulties or need advice or receive suspicious information, you should immediately contact the Vietnam Social Security hotline 1900.9068 or the Ho Chi Minh City Social Security hotline: (028) 39979039 - 0703 or the nearest Social Security office for support and verification.