July 1st, 2026, marks the date when numerous new regulations concerning Social Insurance (SI) and Health Insurance (HI) will officially be implemented nationwide.

Expanding Benefits and Improving Access for HI Participants

According to the amended Law on HI, which takes effect from July 1st, 2026, HI policies will continue to be refined with a focus on the patient-centered approach, expanding benefits, and providing more convenience for participants in accessing and utilizing medical examination and treatment services.

Under the new provisions of the Law, many contents related to the scope of coverage, conditions for medical examination and treatment, and HI cost settlement have been amended to be more streamlined and convenient. Notably, for certain cases of critical illness, rare diseases, or conditions requiring specialized treatment, patients will have improved access to appropriate medical facilities while still receiving full HI benefits as stipulated. The refinement of regulations regarding the transfer between medical facilities also contributes to reducing administrative procedures, thereby facilitating patients during their treatment process.

A notable point is that according to Circular No. 01/2026/TT-BYT dated January 9, 2026, from the Ministry of Health, effective July 1, 2026, individuals diagnosed with 62 specific diseases or disease groups at qualified healthcare facilities will be able to directly access specialized healthcare facilities for treatment without a referral letter, while remaining entitled to full HI benefits in accordance with applicable regulations. Tahis list includes numerous critical illnesses, rare diseases, and conditions requiring specialized care, such as certain cancers, blood disorders, cardiovascular diseases, neurological conditions, metabolic disorders, and organ transplants. The expansion of this list is expected to significantly reduce referral times, enabling patients to receive timely treatment at specialized healthcare facilities.

This new regulation is anticipated to help patients, especially those with severe illnesses, save time, reduce travel expenses, and gain earlier access and  more effective treatments.

In parallel with policy refinement, Vietnam Social Security (VSS) is advancing digital transformation by connecting data with the healthcare sector. This integration facilitates the use of chip-embedded citizen identification cards, the VssID app, or VNeID as substitutes for physical HI  cards during medical examinations and treatments. Synchronizing data across agencies is designed not only to simplify procedures but also to enhance service quality and decrease patient waiting times.

Adjusting HI benefit levels and contribution rates according to the new statutory base salary.

According to Decree No. 161/2026/ND-CP dated May 15, 2026, from the Government, stipulating the base salary for officials, civil servants, public employees, and the armed forces, from July 1, 2026, the statutory base salary will be adjusted to 2.53 million VND per month. This simultaneous adjustment will result in many adjustments in HI benefits determined based on the statutory base salary as stipulated by the Law on HI and its guiding documents.

As per the Law on HI, individuals participating in HI will continue to have 100% of their examination and treatment costs covered by the HI fund if the total cost of a single examination or treatment is less than 15% of the statutory base salary. With the new statutory base salary, this cost threshold is raised to 379,500 VND per healthcare visit, contributing to a reduced co-payment rate for patients, especially for routine check-ups and treatments. This regulation facilitates easier access to healthcare services for the public and alleviates the financial burden of medical care.

Furthermore, the adjustment of the base salary also changes the HI contribution amounts for certain groups whose contributions are calculated based on the statutory base salary, as stipulated in Decree No. 146/2018/ND-CP (as amended), such as students and participants in household-based HI. However, the State will continue to maintain its policy of providing contribution subsidies for many groups subsidized by the state budget, thereby contributing to social security assurance and limiting the impact on individuals' HI  participation costs.

Expanding benefit entitlements and better protecting the rights of SI participants.

Not only will HI participants enjoy expanded benefits, but from 1 July 2026, a wide range of SI benefits will also be adjusted in line with the new statutory base salary, thereby enhancing social security protection for employees and their dependants.

According to the regulations, in addition to the lump-sum allowance for childbirth or adoption being increased to VND 5.06 million per child, various other SI  benefits calculated based on the statutory base salary will be adjusted accordingly. These include the funeral allowance, equivalent to 10 times the statutory base salary (corresponding to VND 25.3 million from 1 July 2026), the attendance allowance for persons with a loss of working capacity of 81% or more, as well as a number of benefits under the work injury & occupational disease insurance scheme and the monthly survivors’ allowance.

The adjustment of SI benefits not only helps preserve the real value of benefit payments amid fluctuations in the cost of living, but also demonstrates the care and commitment of the Party and the State to employees, pensioners, and beneficiaries of SI policies. At the same time, it further reaffirms the role of social insurance as the principal pillar of the social security system, contributing to safeguarding people's livelihoods when they face risks or reach working-age limits.

Adjusting pensions, SI benefits, and monthly allowances.

Alongside adjusting the base salary, starting from July 1, 2026, the Government will implement an 8% increase in pensions, SI benefits, and monthly allowances for individuals receiving them before July 1, 2026, as stipulated in Decree No. 162/2026/ND-CP and guided by Circular No. 14/2026/TT-BNV.

Notably, in addition to the general 8% adjustment, the Government continue to provide support measures for those with low benefit levels to narrow the gap between different beneficiary groups. Accordingly, individuals whose pension, SI benefit, or monthly allowance, after the 8% increase, remains at or below 3.5 million VND per month will receive an additional adjustment of 300,000 VND per month. In cases where the benefit amount, after the 8% adjustment, is above 3.5 million VND but below 3.8 million VND per month, it will be raised to 3.8 million VND per month.

This adjustment will not only contribute to improving the lives of millions of retirees and those receiving monthly SI  benefits and allowances amidst fluctuating prices and living costs, but also demonstrates the concern of the Party and State for those who have contributed to the country's development. Concurrently, the policy also helps to achieve the goal of ensuring social security and gradually improving the living standards of pensioners and beneficiaries, especially those with lower benefit amounts.

Continuing to expand SI & HI coverage.

The new policies taking effect from July 1, 2026, aim not only to enhance the benefits for current participants but also to create additional motivation for expanding the coverage of SI and HI.

For voluntary SI, the State will continue to maintain its policy of supporting contribution payments as regulated, creating favorable conditions for workers in the informal sector to have the opportunity to participate and accumulate SI contribution periods to receiving pensions and HI cards in old age. Alongside this, the acceleration of digital transformation, the simplification of administrative procedures, and the expansion of online public services will also make it easier for people to access, participate in, and benefit from SI, HI  policies.

It can be seen that the simultaneous implementation of many new policies from July 1, 2026, reaffirms the determination of the Party and the State in building a modern, sustainable social security system that places people at the center of service. These adjustments will not only raise the benefits for participants but also contribute to strengthening public confidence in SI & HI policies, while simultaneously creating a foundation for expanding coverage, advancing towards the goal of universal SI & HI as per the resolutions of the Party and the State.