For the past few years, the initiatives and activeness of several levels, sectors, and local authorities have unlocked remarkable achievements in the implementation of SHI, i.e. the increasing number of students participating in HI over years. Viet Nam Social Security has been putting great effort to guarantee HI benefits for the students; keep reforming the procedures of participating in and enjoying the HI benefits in the direction of simplicity, convenience, and better-ensured examination and treatment covered by HI. Since the beginning of 2021, the nationwide-implemented policy of direct referral to the provincial level in HI-covered examination and treament has helped some HI beneficiaries to enjoy the benefit of 100% inpatient treatment support while they received medical examination and treatment in a health care provider other than their originally-registered one. Together with the expanded HI benefits, since June 2021, there have been significant improvements in HI-covered medical examination and treatment procedures, which has benefited the HI beneficiaries in general, student beneficiaries in particular. In other words, the alternative of using the scanned HI card on VssID  - Digital social security application instead of the physical paper HI card to perform medical examination and treatment procedures has saved the HI beneficiaries time without worrying about the missing or damaged physical HI card.

Illustrative image (internet) 

The increasing number of students participating in HI over the years has proved the improvement in the parents’ and students’ awareness of HI benefits, significance, and importance. In the past, many parents only took part in HI when their children got incurable and chronic diseases that required costly medical examination and treatment expenses. Nowadays, the majority of parents actively have participated in HI for their children right when they are physically healthy. There has been a significant move from obligatory HI participation under circumstances to voluntary HI participation for their children’s healthcare if needed. The parents are also aware that their yearly HI premium contribution for their children (i.e. 560,000 VND/year) if not used will be a significant share to support the community.

 In addition, in the global trend of extended benefits and improved quality of medical examination and healthcare for beneficiaries, HI student participants have received more and more benefits from the HI fund. The HI fund has covered the medical expenses ranging from several tens to hundreds of millions of dongs for many student patients with incurable and chronic diseases such as kidney failure, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, etc.

 It can be seen from the practice of HI medical examination and treatment coverage for students that HI policies have proved their roles in taking care of the students' physical health, legitimate medical examination and treatment benefits; calming and motivating the patient’s family when their children are unfortunately facing health risks; helping disadvantaged students who are sick or ill to have the opportunity to receive medical treatment, recover and be back to school soon.