Timely support for employees

By the end of March 2022, the whole Vietnamese social insurance industry has mobilized 16.697 million people to participate in social insurance, accounting for 33.01% of the labor force in the age group (of which about 15,237 million people participate in compulsory social insurance and 1.46 million people participate in voluntary social insurance); about 13,538 million people participate in unemployment insurance, accounting for 26.76% of the labor force in age; about 85,470 million people participate in health insurance, reaching the coverage rate of 87.56% of the population. Thus, nationwide, the number of social and health insurance participants witnesses an increase compared to the previous month and compared to the same period in 2021. Particularly for health insurance, the number of social and health insurance participants has increased by over 77,000 people compared to February 2022, yet a drop compared to the same period in 2021.

Along with the increase in the number of social and health insurance participants, in March, the whole Industry settled the benefits for 4,895 records for monthly pension and social insurance benefits; 115,606 people enjoyed one-time allowance (of which 106,097 people leave work and enjoy one-time social insurance); settlement for 808,551 turns of people enjoying benefits for sickness, maternity, health recovery and rehabilitation. In particular, the social security agencies at all levels have coordinated with the Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs sectors at the same level to settle for 62,486 people entitled to unemployment insurance benefits.

Notably, in March 2022, the issue of special interest was the procedures and records for enjoying sickness benefits during the leave of absence for Covid-19 home treatment. In the face of complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of employees infected with Covid-19 who self-treat at home increased, and the Circular 56/2017/TT-BYT did not have regulations on the issuance of documents and certificates as the basis for enjoying social insurance benefits for F0 patients treated at home or at facilities.

Illustrative image (source: Internet)

Vietnam Social Security (VSS) has participated in proposing to the Government Office regarding the authority to recognize 7 types of documents that people with Covid-19 are issued with as valid as certificates of leave from work to enjoy social insurance; joined with the Ministry of Health to draft the Circular amending and supplementing Circular No. 56/2017/TT-BYT, requesting the Ministry of Health to specify the 7 types of documents to be submitted, such as the resignation certificate to enjoy social insurance. Also, the VSS has directed to request social security offices of provinces to prepare all resources to promptly handle sickness benefits for employees infected with Covid-19.

Simultaneously, to direct the local social security agencies to closely coordinate with the Department of Health and medical facilities to pilot the use of chip-mounted ID cards and the application of national electronic identification of the Ministry of Public Security (VNEID) in medical care with health insurance; guide the social security offices of provinces based on the medical treatment spending in 2019, 2020, 2021; forecast changes in the provision of medical services, develop the beneficiaries of health insurance and the ability to control the Covid-19 epidemic in the locality to develop a plan to deploy the 2022 estimate.

Continue to perform key tasks

Continue to coordinate with units to develop and implement communication plans on social and health insurance policies in 2022; diversely, flexibly deploy and strengthen communication activities on the Internet and social networks. Along with that, regularly urge and guide provincial social security agencies to follow the orientations and plans of the VSS and each local epidemic level to strengthen the implementation of flexible and safe communication activities adaptable to new situations; especially the implementation of communication plans, mobilization of people to participate in social and health insurance.

Illustrative image (source: Internet)

In addition, the VSS also consulted with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs on solving a number of problems in paying voluntary social insurance according to the multidimensional poverty line for the period 2021-2025. Implement development targets for participants of voluntary social insurance and self-pay health insurance by 2022 for the postal system of collection agents. Also, assign targets and plans to collect, exploit and develop participants, reduce debts of social and health insurance in 2022 to localities; direct and guide provincial social security agencies to focus on implementing synchronously solutions to develop participants of social and health insurance; timely and sufficient settlement and payment of benefits for participants; strengthen irregular inspection; focus on inspection in electronic form; promptly handle and propose competent authorities to handle violations of the law on social and health insurance.

On the other hand, the VSS has strictly managed the payment of short-term social insurance benefits, one-time allowances, and payment of unemployment insurance benefits; strengthens and proactively controls costs of medical care and treatment with health insurance; exploits and maximizes the efficiency of the industry's IT and database to check, monitor and prevent fraud, abuse, and profiteering. Along with that, it has synchronously implemented measures to manage funds safely, sustainably and effectively, both strictly controlling and ensuring the interests of participants in social and health insurance. In particular, the VSS continues to decentralize and personalize responsibilities along with inspection and supervision; continues to strengthen administrative discipline, further promoting the roles and responsibilities of the heads of agencies and units; assigns responsibilities to ensure the transparency principle of people, tasks, processes, responsibilities, results, etc.