Health insurance protects many people against financial risks, especially bringing essential health benefits to poor patients suffering from severe diseases that require life-long treatment...
Health insurance protects many people against financial risks, especially bringing essential health benefits to poor patients suffering from severe diseases that require life-long treatment.
Easing financial burden for the poor
Suffering from kidney failure for more than 7 years, Nguyen Thi Binh Tai, Van Thanh Ward, Nha Trang City needs dialysis three times a week. “We are poor, so nearly VND10 million for the treatment every month is beyond our budget. We are so grateful for the State health insurance support. I pay only over VND1 million a month for the needles and medicines that are not covered by insurance," she said.
According to the provincial medical insurance agency, VND218 million had been paid by health insurance to her treatment by February 2023. Health insurance has proved to bring essential health benefits to patients, especially low-income earners.
 Health insurance-covered treatment at Khanh Hoa General Hospital.
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Ho Thi Nuong’s husband, Phan Boi Chau Street, Nha Trang City, has been in hospital for 9 months for the treatment of lung and stomach diseases. 80% of the medical expenses (nearly VND495 million has been covered by medical insurance). Her family could not afford the treatment expenses for such long time without the health insurance.
According to the provincial health insurance agency, many poor patients have benefitted from the health insurance fund, even up to VND1 billion, which is beyond their family budgets.
For community health care
With the practical significance of the health insurance policy, over the years, the number of the medically insured has grown sharply and exceeded the targets. Currently, 1.2 million people are covered by health insurance in the province. The target of universal health insurance is 92.21%.
Besides, opportunities to access medical examination and treatment services covered by health insurance is expanding with the increase in health insurance-covered treatment. Especially, during the Covid-19 crisis, the Health Insurance Fund continued to help many families overcome difficulties and reduce the financial burden of medical treatment.
According to Le Hung Chinh, Deputy Director of Provincial Social Insurance Management and Administration, over the past time, the provincial social insurance agency has made efforts to implement health insurance policies and laws effectively; take solutions to ensure benefits for the medically insured such as boosting medical examination and treatment covered by health insurance; boost administrative reform, promote the application of information technology; raise the sense of responsibility and service quality; promote inspection over the Social Insurance Fund, etc.
Health insurance policies have improved towards ensuring the most benefits for the medically insured. Currently, many high-tech, high-quality medicines and imaging and testing services are covered by health insurance by up to 80-90%. Services covered by health insurance are increasing to ensure more and more benefits.
According to the provincial health insurance, by February 2023, the Health Insurance Fund has paid nearly VND175 billion; up by 33.62% over the same period last year. In 2022 alone, more than 2.1 million outpatients and 187,700 inpatients benefited from health insurance-covered treatment.
M.H
Translated by N.T
