People are issued free health insurance cards. Photo: Phuoc Ly

Regarding health insurance, in addition to the subsidy stipulated in Clause 6, Article 6 of Government Decree No. 188/2025/ND-CP dated July 1, 2025, local budgets will provide an additional 30% subsidy on health insurance contributions for people belonging to near-poor households.

Local budgets also provide an additional 30% subsidy on health insurance contributions for ethnic minorities living in communes that are no longer classified as economically and socially disadvantaged or extremely disadvantaged areas, with a support period of 36 months from the time the area where the beneficiary lives is no longer classified as economically and socially disadvantaged or extremely disadvantaged; and a 50% subsidy on contributions for households that have escaped both poverty and near-poverty, with a support period of 36 months from the time the household is officially recognized by the competent authority as having escaped poverty and near-poverty.

Currently, the number of near-poor households in Hue City remains quite high. Compared to the end of 2023, the number of near-poor households decreased from approximately 9,002 (2.7%) to 6,846, and by the end of 2025, it is estimated to continue decreasing by about 1.5-1.8%, equivalent to 5,000-6,000 households. This result shows the effective poverty reduction efforts thanks to programs supporting livelihoods, housing, employment, and vocational training. Near-poor households are defined according to the multidimensional poverty standard for the 2022-2025 period, with low income and lack of basic services.

Besides being concentrated in the former A Lưới and Nam Đông regions, a segment of ethnic minority people are living in communes within Hue City that are no longer classified as economically and socially disadvantaged or extremely disadvantaged areas. By 2025, the communes of A Lưới, which are the main settlements of ethnic minorities, will have been officially recognized by the Prime Minister as having escaped poverty.

Report No. 18725/TTr-UBND dated December 23, 2025, from the People's Committee of Hue City to the City People's Council on the draft Resolution on policies to support voluntary social insurance and health insurance contributions for the period 2026-2030 aims to concretize social security policies and encourage people to participate in health insurance. The highest goal is to expand coverage, aiming for universal health insurance; to support people with difficult economic conditions to participate, avoiding situations where they do not have health insurance cards, thereby reducing the burden on people when they are sick or ill.

In reality, some near-poor households previously participated less in health insurance because the out-of-pocket contribution was still a burden, or they did not fully understand the long-term benefits of health insurance. Meanwhile, the boundary between near-poor and poor households is very thin; just one serious illness in a family member can cause the treatment costs to push a near-poor household back into poverty.

Mr. Nguyen Van Long, a near-poor household in Thuan Hoa ward, recounted that not long ago, a traffic accident consumed all of his annual income, even plunging his family into debt. He shared: “I feel reassured and relieved. The support for health insurance premiums helps me worry less every time I get sick. Thank you to the Party and the State for their care, assistance, and support for people in difficult times.”

The policy of providing 100% support for health insurance contributions for the near-poor and ethnic minorities living in communes that are no longer classified as economically and socially disadvantaged or extremely disadvantaged areas is not yet uniformly applied nationwide. Currently, only a few localities, such as Hue City, are proactively using their local budgets to support the remaining 30%, ensuring that the near-poor fully participate in health insurance. This is a significant political commitment and deserves recognition.

Tri Anh

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-polit-xa-hoi/an-sinh-xa-hoi/su-ho-tro-kip-thoi-161952.html