'Soon health insurance coverage for students'

According to Mr. Dinh Duy Hung, Deputy Head of the Department of Revenue - Books and Cards Management, Vietnam Social Security, providing health insurance for students is an important step to achieve the goal of universal health insurance.

- How is the insurance industry implementing the policy of protecting, taking care of health and developing the young generation through student health insurance, sir?

- Health insurance is one of the main pillars of the social security system. Implementing health insurance policies in general and health insurance for students in particular plays an important role in social security, aiming to protect, care for health, and comprehensively develop people, especially the future young generation of the country.

The Law on Health Insurance, amended and supplemented in 2014, stipulates that students are subjects participating in compulsory health insurance and are supported by the State budget (minimum from 30% to 100% of the contribution depending on the priority group). With the goal of accelerating the roadmap for universal health insurance, the Prime Minister has thoroughly promoted the implementation of health insurance for students; assigned the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to direct the development of a plan to implement health insurance for students, ensuring that 100% of students participate in health insurance.

From the guidelines to the legal documents related to the health insurance policy for students, the determination of the Party and the State to implement the health insurance law in general and the health insurance law for students - the future generation of the country in particular has been demonstrated. This also affirms the consistency in the policy of implementing health insurance for students as an important step to achieve the goal of universal health insurance in our country.

Students need to be covered by health insurance soon. — Mr. Dinh Duy Hung, Deputy Head of Revenue Management - Books and Cards, Vietnam Social Security. Photo: *Vietnam Social Security*

- In addition to supporting 30% of health insurance premiums for students from the budget, what other mechanisms does the unit have to encourage young people to participate?

- In 2022, 27 provinces and cities have provided additional support for health insurance premiums for students. Some provinces and cities have provided large support, such as: Ha Giang (supporting 70% of premiums); Hung Yen, Ba Ria - Vung Tau (supporting 30%); Quang Ngai (20-30%); Bac Kan, Ca Mau, Hau Giang, Ninh Binh, Son La, Vinh Phuc (supporting 20%)...

In addition, some provinces and cities provide separate support for health insurance premiums for students in special cases, such as Ho Chi Minh City supports 100%, Dong Nai 70% of health insurance premiums for students with disabilities; An Giang, Lam Dong support 70% for students who are ethnic minorities; Binh Phuoc 70% for students in difficult circumstances...

General Director of Vietnam Social Security Nguyen The Manh presents health insurance cards to students in Dien Bien province. Photo: *Vietnam Social Security*

- How do you evaluate the results of implementing the health insurance policy for students in recent times?

- As of the 2022-2023 school year, this rate will reach over 97% with about 18.8 million students, an increase of more than 17% after 10 years of implementation. Many localities have achieved 100% coverage of students with health insurance cards, such as the provinces of Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh...

This shows that the awareness of students and parents about the benefits, meaning, and importance of participating in health insurance... has clearly changed, from a passive mindset to a proactive, active participation. Participating in health insurance for students is both to protect and care for the health of the younger generation, and to demonstrate compassion and responsibility to the community to jointly implement the principle of ensuring risk sharing among health insurance participants.

In addition, health insurance benefits for students are increasingly expanded, and the quality of medical examination and treatment is increasingly improved. In recent times, the health insurance fund has paid for many patients who are students with incurable and chronic diseases such as kidney failure, cancer, cardiovascular disease, etc. with treatment costs ranging from tens of millions to billions of VND.

Increasing the rate of health insurance participation among students is not only important in achieving the goal of universal health insurance but also contributes positively to the cause of innovation and national development.

- To soon achieve 100% health insurance coverage for students, what solutions does the industry have?

- The rate of students participating in health insurance in Vietnam has approached the coverage target. However, there is still a small group that is not fully aware of the benefits and humanity of the health insurance policy, so they have not fully participated, mainly students from the second year and above of universities, colleges and vocational schools. This causes them to lose the opportunity to enjoy health care benefits from the health insurance policy. Especially for students who are unfortunately diagnosed with a serious illness, if they do not have a health insurance card, their families may have to face the burden of large treatment costs, affecting the family's economy as well as their medical examination and treatment process.

Accordingly, Vietnam Social Security has directed units to simultaneously deploy many solutions such as: assigning targets, supporting additional health insurance premiums for students; expanding and spreading the movement of joining hands to help of philanthropists to support and give health insurance cards to students in difficult circumstances...

We also strengthen communication about the rights and obligations of participating in health insurance, through conveying content about the humane nature of health insurance, the effectiveness of health insurance medical examination and treatment for students, cases where the health insurance fund pays high costs...

In addition, social insurance agencies ensure convenience in administrative procedures, strengthen and improve the quality of electronic transactions, creating convenience for participants... Social insurance at all levels needs to coordinate with the education sector to disseminate and propagate health insurance policies to schools...

In addition, the industry also coordinates with the health sector and health insurance medical facilities to ensure the rights to medical examination, treatment and health care for students.

Tue Anh

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