Expanding coverage of voluntary social and health insurance

People learn about and participate in voluntary social insurance at the Cao Bang City Post Office business counter.

Thanks to voluntary health insurance, many people who are sick and need long-term treatment have had large sums of money paid by the insurance; many individuals with stable income have also participated in voluntary social insurance so that when they reach retirement age, they will still have a pension.

STRENGTHENING PROPAGANDA AND MOBILIZATION

According to the representative of Cao Bang Provincial Social Insurance, in recent times, many cases of voluntary health insurance participants who were sick and had to undergo long-term treatment have received insurance support to pay for treatment costs with quite a large amount of money. For example, in 2024, Mr. THM in Group 1, Tan Giang Ward, Cao Bang Province, who participated in voluntary health insurance, was paid 284 million VND for medical examination and treatment costs. Or like Ms. PTĐ. in Hop Giang 1 residential group, Thuc Phan Ward, was paid 209 million VND...

Deputy Director of Cao Bang Provincial Social Insurance Luc Thi Viet Hang shared that in recent years, the Provincial Social Insurance has increased coordination to promote the benefits of participating in health insurance and voluntary social insurance. Thanks to that, many people have known the nature of the insurance policy is to ensure social security, helping to reduce the burden on families and society when participants are past working age, unfortunately encountering economic and health problems. Thereby, many individuals and families have voluntarily participated in social insurance with a contribution level appropriate to their income and participated in health insurance.

As of July 31, 2025, in Cao Bang, there were more than 19,000 people participating in voluntary social insurance, an increase of 2,695 people (16.3%) compared to the same period in 2024; more than 29,000 people participating in voluntary health insurance, an increase of 2,634 people (9.8%) compared to the same period in 2024. As a partner of the Provincial Social Insurance, in recent years, Cao Bang Provincial Post Office has effectively participated in the development of voluntary insurance participants.

At the business counter of Cao Bang City Post Office, Ms. Luc Thi Bay, in Group 19 Song Hien, Thuc Phan Ward, came to register and participate in voluntary insurance. Ms. Bay said: "I work in trading, after being consulted about the contribution level and pension benefits when I reach 60 years old, I decided to participate with an average contribution of 500 thousand VND/month, so that when I reach retirement age, I can receive a salary and ensure my life."

Ms. Nong Thi Tuyen Nhung, a sales staff at Cao Bang City Post Office, said: "After listening to advice and introductions about obligations and benefits when participating in insurance, many people have participated in social insurance and voluntary health insurance. Among my customers, some participate in social insurance with a contribution of 264 thousand VND/month, and some participate with a contribution of more than 2 million VND/month."

TOWARDS UNIVERSAL COVERAGE

To date, in Cao Bang, the number of people participating in social insurance is more than 54,000 people, equivalent to about 10% of the population. The number of people participating in health insurance is more than 514,000 people, equivalent to nearly 90% of the population. Aiming to increase the number of people participating in voluntary social insurance and the entire population participating in health insurance, Cao Bang Provincial Social Insurance has synchronously implemented many solutions.

Ms. Lam Thi Minh Hong, Head of the Department of Propaganda and Participant Support, said: The provincial Social Insurance assigned the target of developing voluntary insurance participants to civil servants and employees in the industry; coordinated with the provincial Post Office to develop voluntary social insurance and health insurance participants. In communes, wards, and units, conferences were held to promote the development of voluntary social insurance participants; invited commune and ward leaders to speak out, highlighting the nature of the insurance policy so that people could trust and voluntarily participate.

In recent times, the insurance industry has coordinated with the government to survey potential subjects, launch propaganda campaigns, and mobilize people to participate in voluntary social insurance. In addition, the settlement of participant regimes by Cao Bang Provincial Social Insurance has been fully, promptly, to the right people, and in accordance with regulations, helping them to trust and feel secure in participating, expanding the insurance coverage rate. However, the development of voluntary insurance participants in Cao Bang also has some difficulties. For example, many people, especially young workers, are still hesitant and do not see the long-term benefits of participating in insurance. Some people still "calculate" and only buy health insurance when they are sick. The income of many workers is not high and is still unstable, making it difficult for them to maintain continuous payments.

In the coming time, Cao Bang Social Insurance will continue to promote and introduce the costs and benefits of participating in social insurance and health insurance to potential subjects. Thereby, expanding and developing participants, contributing to ensuring social security, stabilizing the lives of each person when they are past working age, sick, need medical examination and treatment.

Article and photos: MINH TUAN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/mo-rong-dien-bao-phu-bao-hiem-xa-hoi-y-te-tu-nguyen-post902938.html