Great hope from health insurance card

The story of Ms. Nguyen Thi Lam - a hired worker in Thoi An Hoi commune, Ke Sach district, Soc Trang province - who is taking care of her daughter with severe encephalitis at the Pediatric Intensive Care and Poison Control Department of Soc Trang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital is an example of the hope from the health insurance card.

According to Ms. Lam, in February 2024, her daughter had to be rushed to the Soc Trang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital with a high fever and severe respiratory failure. After being diagnosed with encephalitis - a dangerous disease that can leave serious sequelae, the couple almost collapsed. However, thanks to health insurance, with the health insurance fund paying almost all of the hospital fees, the family was less worried and had hope that they could fully treat their child.

It is known that the doctors and nurses of the Department of Intensive Care and Pediatric Poison Control of Soc Trang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital have made constant efforts to put the baby on a ventilator, using strong antibiotics, combined with intensive recovery nutrition. After just over 15 months in the hospital, from an unconscious baby who did not react to light, Ms. Lam's daughter gradually regained consciousness, began to practice breathing, a small sign of recovery but a journey to snatch it from the hands of death, with a total treatment cost of more than 400 million VND.

“Now seeing my child open his eyes and call me mom, I am so happy. Without health insurance, I don’t know what to do to save my child. There were times when I thought I would give up, there was no way I could bear the cost of more than 400 million VND for treatment. Without health insurance, my child would not have a chance to live,” said Ms. Lam.

Another case, also at the Soc Trang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, has been going on for several days now, with a young child suffering from encephalitis - still fighting the disease with determination. More than 5 months of intensive, continuous treatment with a total cost of more than 250 million VND, which is hard for a poor working family to bear.

Sharing the story, the patient’s relatives said that the child’s parents work as factory workers in Binh Duong , with an unstable income, only enough to send home each month to buy diapers and milk for their child. Without health insurance, they would not know where to borrow and where to get that much money. Thanks to health insurance, the child has had the opportunity to continue living, and the family is not in dire straits…

Doctors and nurses have often worried that some families will have to give up halfway due to financial exhaustion, but the health insurance card has become a solid support, helping patients continue to receive treatment according to the right regimen, the right medicine, fully and promptly, bringing hope not only to patients but also to their families.

It can be seen that the humane policy of the Party and State through the health insurance card has lit up the light of hope, helping the patient's family overcome the most severe stage of the disease, preserving the lives of those who have suffered from serious illnesses.

Soc Trang is one of the poor provinces with many households with low and unstable incomes - the health insurance policy is truly a lifesaver for many cases of patients requiring long-term treatment, using high technology, and high costs. Many cases costing hundreds of millions of VND have been paid by the Health Insurance Fund, not only helping to reduce the financial burden on the patient's family, but also creating conditions for medical facilities to maximize their professional capacity and modern equipment.

The health insurance policy is not only humane but also a solid support for millions of disadvantaged people who are unable to prepare for medical risks. In 2024, the Health Insurance Fund in Soc Trang paid hundreds of billions of VND in hospital fees for patients, most of whom were poor, near-poor, ethnic minorities, lonely elderly people and children under 6 years old. This is a clear demonstration of the social security, humanity and sustainability role of health insurance in the social policy system.

It can be seen that the poorer the rural areas, the more we appreciate the value of the health insurance card. Despite many socio-economic difficulties, the rate of universal health insurance coverage in Soc Trang province has always remained high, over 100%. In recent years, the Social Insurance of Soc Trang province has actively promoted the communication of health insurance policies, closely coordinating with medical facilities to ensure the right to medical examination and treatment for people, especially the vulnerable.

According to Mr. Lam Thanh Thien, Deputy Director of Management and Operation of Social Insurance of Soc Trang province, ensuring the right to medical examination and treatment for people with health insurance cards in Soc Trang province has achieved many important results. Every year, more than 3 million people who undergo health insurance examination and treatment are guaranteed their rights. The Health Insurance Fund has contributed to effectively replacing the financial mechanism for health care, and the health insurance policy has ensured the principle of risk sharing among participants. People participating in health insurance is considered a form of savings "contributing when healthy, saving when sick", to reduce the economic burden when unfortunately falling ill, including serious illnesses, high costs...

According to statistics from the Social Insurance of Soc Trang province, each year the Health Insurance Fund pays over 1,000 billion VND for health insurance examination and treatment, in which many patients are paid up to 800 million to 900 million VND/year. In addition to paying for normal medical examination and treatment costs, the Health Insurance Fund also pays for many people with serious and chronic diseases such as: Hemophilia (genetic blood clotting disorder), cancer, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure...

Quynh Anh

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/niem-hy-vong-lon-tu-tam-the-bao-hiem-y-te-post548199.html