Roadmap for waiving hospital fees and increasing health insurance benefits: Significant changes from 2026.

The policy of free medical treatment at the basic level will officially take effect from January 1, 2030, but starting in 2026, the percentage and level of reimbursement for medical examination and treatment costs under health insurance will increase.

According to the Ministry of Health , the Resolution on some special mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in the protection, care, and improvement of people's health, passed by the National Assembly, includes some regulations on medical examination and treatment under health insurance. Except for the regulations on hospital fee exemption and the implementation of screening examinations, this Resolution will take effect from January 1, 2026.

People will be exempt from basic hospital fees according to a phased plan.

PHOTO: LIEN CHAU

Specifically, those participating in health insurance who are members of near-poor households, and elderly people aged 75 and above receiving social retirement benefits, are entitled to 100% coverage of medical examination and treatment costs within the scope of their health insurance coverage. At the same time, the coverage rate within the scope of health insurance coverage is increased for those receiving social welfare benefits, low-income individuals, and other priority cases.

According to the National Assembly Resolution, from January 1, 2030, a policy of waiving basic hospital fees within the scope of benefits for health insurance participants will be implemented according to a roadmap consistent with the country's socio -economic development, the balance capacity of the Health Insurance Fund, and the increase in health insurance contributions. The Government will regulate the beneficiaries and the roadmap for increasing the benefit level within the scope of health insurance participants; the list of diseases and the roadmap for implementing expenditure from the Health Insurance Fund for screening, diagnosis, and early treatment of certain diseases, ensuring consistency with the increase in health insurance contributions from 2027.

The National Assembly has directed the implementation of pilot programs to diversify health insurance packages, diversify types of health insurance service provision, and implement supplementary health insurance provided by insurance companies based on people's needs when conditions permit.

Regarding the salary and allowance policies for medical staff, the resolution clearly states that medical doctors, traditional medicine doctors, dentists, preventive medicine doctors, and pharmacists will be classified at salary level 2 upon recruitment into their respective professional positions until new salary regulations are issued.

Individuals who regularly and directly perform medical professional work in the fields of psychiatry, forensic medicine, forensic psychiatry, emergency resuscitation, and pathology are entitled to a professional incentive allowance at 100%.

Individuals regularly and directly engaged in medical professional work at commune-level health stations and preventive health facilities are entitled to a professional incentive allowance at 100% for ethnic minority and mountainous areas, areas with difficult socio-economic conditions, areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions, border areas, and islands. If not located in these areas, they will receive a minimum of 70%.

The resolution added provisions on forms of attracting social resources in the health sector; regulations allowing health facilities to decide on the level of allocation to supplementary income funds, creating a legal framework for mobilizing and attracting resources for health activities...

An apology alone is not enough.

Adding to the policy group on safety for healthcare workers in medical facilities, the Resolution states: Individuals who violate the physical integrity, health, life, or insult the honor and dignity of healthcare workers shall, depending on the nature and severity of the violation, be subject to disciplinary action, administrative penalties, or criminal prosecution; if damage is caused, they must compensate according to the provisions of the law.

These individuals are also required to publicly apologize through the media, at their place of residence or work, or at the medical facility where they committed the act of harming health or insulting medical staff.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lo-trinh-mien-vien-phi-and-tang-quyen-loi-bhyt-thay-doi-quan-important-tu-2026-185251219210453563.htm