Hope the elderly and students in Ho Chi Minh City will soon be exempted from health insurance fees

Ho Chi Minh City's proposal to waive health insurance fees for 2.7 million elderly people and students has received positive support, with many hoping that this policy will be approved soon.

As reported by Thanh Nien newspaper, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee submitted a proposal to the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council to register for the drafting of a resolution stipulating the level of support for health insurance contributions for the elderly and students in the city, using a simplified procedure. With a 100% support level, students and people over 65 years old will be exempt from health insurance fees in 2026.

Over 2 million students in Ho Chi Minh City are expected to receive free health insurance in 2026.

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

Specifically, people aged 65-75 who are not covered by health insurance under other policies will receive 100% support for their contributions. Meanwhile, students currently studying in educational and training institutions will receive 100% support for their contributions, including 50% under the central government's general policy and 50% supported by the Ho Chi Minh City budget.

To implement this policy, Ho Chi Minh City's budget is estimated to spend 2,138 billion VND in 2026. It is expected that more than 2.7 million people will benefit from this policy, including over 676,000 elderly people and 2.03 million students.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee stated that the provision of free health insurance for the elderly and students, funded by the budget, has profound humanitarian value, demonstrating the concern of the city's Party Committee and government in caring for the people's health, contributing to the development of a comprehensive social security system, and improving the quality of life for citizens.

I fully support it.

Responding to the information above, Thanh Nien newspaper readers welcomed the proposal. "I fully support this proposal; it proves that Ho Chi Minh City is truly prioritizing the interests and health of its people. This policy is not only about financial support but also an investment in human capital and the healthy longevity of its citizens. It affirms the vision of building a city that is not only wealthy but also compassionate and responsible," reader Nguyen Kiet commented.

Sharing the same view, Ms. Diem Thi commented: "The free health insurance policy helps minimize the number of people left out due to economic difficulties, bringing Ho Chi Minh City closer to the goal of 100% of its population having health insurance cards by 2030. I fully support it!"

Meanwhile, Tam An wrote: "I am very happy that our children, the students, are guaranteed school health without adding to the financial burden on their families. This policy removes the barrier of health insurance costs, helping students focus entirely on their studies and future development. This is a guarantee for a healthy generation of citizens in the future."

"This proposal demonstrates the government's deep understanding of the real difficulties people are facing, especially in the context of rising prices. Eliminating the burden of health insurance fees, however small, is of great significance to middle- and low-income households," commented Ms. Tien Nguyen in support.

We hope it will be approved soon.

Not only did many express their agreement, but they also hoped that this policy would soon take effect. "The profound humanitarian value of the policy lies in the fact that it not only cares for the elderly but also for the future generations of the country, demonstrating comprehensive care across generations. It is a multi-faceted and comprehensive policy. I hope this proposal will be approved and implemented soon," commented reader Hoang Thien.

Similarly, commenter Phuong Ngan wrote: "I fully support this proposal from the city and hope that free health insurance for the elderly and students will be expanded nationwide, especially in more economically disadvantaged areas. Ho Chi Minh City has set a good precedent."

Ms. Linh Tran expressed her opinion: "I hope this policy will be approved soon at the next session of the City People's Council. The anticipation of millions of people, especially the elderly who need medical care, is immense, and early implementation will bring immediate benefits."

"After the policy is implemented, healthcare facilities need to improve the quality of health insurance-covered medical examinations and treatments, so that people benefiting from the policy feel that this significant investment by the city is worthwhile," commented Thanh Ngan.

* This policy is a major boost for the social insurance sector, helping to raise public awareness of the important role of health insurance in life. It fosters a culture of voluntary participation in insurance.

Quang Tan

* Hopefully, after the elderly and high school students, Ho Chi Minh City will continue to research and expand the scope of health insurance support to other vulnerable groups such as low-income self-employed workers.

Authority

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mong-nguoi-gia-hoc-sinh-o-tphcm-som-duoc-mien-phi-bhyt-185251024190200965.htm