Looking back over the 13th National Party Congress term, SI, HI, and UI policies have served not only as a “safety net” during difficult periods but have increasingly become a foundation for sustainable development. When this policy system is firmly consolidated, society becomes more stable, the economy grows steadily, and public trust in the Party’s guidelines and the State’s governance is strengthened—creating a solid foundation for realizing the aspiration for a prosperous and happy nation in the new era.

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Persistently Expanding Coverage, Safeguarding Participants’ Rights

In 2025, natural disasters and floods directly affected people’s livelihoods, jobs, and incomes, posing significant challenges to the expansion of SI, HI, and UI participation. However, VSS continued to expand coverage toward a more comprehensive and sustainable social security system.

A range of decisive directives was issued, accompanied by strong innovation in mindset and methods of action. Leaders at all levels worked directly with localities to clarify tasks and solutions, developing suitable scenarios for different regions and population groups. Forecasting was conducted early and closely aligned with realities, with specific targets assigned to each unit. Participant data were standardized and synchronized with the two-tier local government model, laying a firm foundation for the sustainable development of SI and HI.

As a result, coverage targets continued to expand and largely met the Government’s goals, even in areas heavily affected by natural disasters. In 2025, SI coverage reached 45.1% of the working-age labor force (with compulsory SI covering 39.6% and voluntary SI 5.49%), while UI participation reached 35.6%. Notably, HI coverage exceeded 95.16% of the population—surpassing the target set by the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress—becoming a standout achievement of the term and bringing Viet Nam closer to the goal of universal health insurance.

These figures convey an important message: amid volatility, public trust in SI, HI, and UI policies has continued to strengthen. Growth in participation during difficult times reflects not only VSS’ proactiveness and flexibility, but also the spread of social awareness that social security is not a matter of “having favorable conditions,” but a vital safety net that helps individuals and families remain resilient in the face of risks.

Health Insurance – A “Shield” Protecting People’s Health

Alongside SI, HI has continued to affirm its role as a pillar of the social security system—a “shield” protecting people’s health. In 2025, the 2024 Health Insurance Law took effect with many breakthrough provisions that expanded benefits and significantly facilitated access for participants. A key highlight was the removal of administrative boundaries in HI-covered medical examination and treatment. From 1 July 2025, HI cardholders have been able to seek healthcare services at any registered primary healthcare facility nationwide while enjoying full benefits as prescribed.

In particular, for a list of 62 rare, critical, surgery-requiring, or high-tech diseases, patients may receive treatment at specialized facilities without referral papers and still enjoy 100% coverage within the benefit scope. This policy is especially meaningful for people in rural, mountainous, remote, and disadvantaged areas, where access to quality healthcare remains limited and out-of-pocket payments can impose prolonged financial burdens, even pushing households back into poverty.

HI participants may also register for primary medical examination and treatment at any basic healthcare facility nationwide, rather than being constrained by administrative boundaries. These reforms reduce procedures, save time and travel costs, help patients access more appropriate services, improve the quality of primary healthcare, and ease pressure on higher-level medical facilities.

Entering 2026, HI policy continues to advance in a more inclusive and humane manner. Under Government Resolution No. 261/2025/QH15, the HI fund has been adjusted to increase benefit rates, while coverage for screening, diagnosis, and early treatment of selected diseases has been expanded. Notably, from 2026, near-poor households and persons aged 75 and above are entitled to 100% HI coverage; premium support has also been increased for many social policy beneficiaries and vulnerable groups. Accordingly, from 1 January 2026, 11 groups will be entitled to 100% coverage of medical examination and treatment costs, as stipulated in Point a, Clause 1, Article 22 of the 2024 Health Insurance Law, contributing to the goal of reducing out-of-pocket payments to below 30% in the 2028–2030 period.

HI has truly become a lifebuoy for patients. Nguyễn Văn Long (58 years old, Lạng Sơn), diagnosed with myasthenia gravis—a rare disease—has undergone long-term treatment at both provincial and central medical facilities. Total treatment costs exceeded VND 600 million, nearly all of which were covered by the HI fund. His wife shared that without HI, repeated hospital bills amounting to tens of millions of VND would have been overwhelming; the HI card made sustained treatment possible.

Accordingly, the number of people benefiting from health insurance has continued to increase, reaffirming HI’s role as a financial safeguard against health risks. In 2025, there were 195.1 million HI-covered medical examination and treatment visits nationwide—an increase of 11.5 million visits (6.5%) compared to 2024—with total expenditures of approximately VND 166.4 trillion, up VND 23.5 trillion (16.43%). Many high-tech and high-cost services—such as cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation, cancer treatment, and dialysis—were covered at high levels by the HI fund; in some cases, costs reached hundreds of millions or even billions of VND, clearly demonstrating the policy’s humanity and spirit of social solidarity.

Confidence and Expectations in the New Year

As 2026 begins—a pivotal year launching a new development phase—SI, HI, and UI policies are required not only to expand coverage, but also to enhance quality and ensure long-term sustainability and equity.

The Director of VSS, Lê Hùng Sơn, affirmed that 2026 marks the beginning of a new development phase for the social security system and the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party, placing higher demands on SI, HI, and UI policy implementation amid intertwined opportunities and challenges. Thoroughly grasping the Party’s people-centered development philosophy, VSS identifies its core mission not only as expanding coverage, but also as improving quality, sustainability, and adaptability, so that SI, HI, and UI policies truly become stable pillars of social stability and a reliable fulcrum for citizens, workers, and enterprises. Building on the achievements of 2025 and the 13th Congress term, VSS is determined to make stronger breakthroughs, contributing to the successful realization of social security goals in the new phase, toward a fast, sustainable, and inclusive country where no one is left behind.

The new year brings confidence and expectations. The achievements of 2025 are not only the result of effective implementation, but also clear evidence of the soundness of the social security pathway chosen by the Party and the State—reflecting the close alignment between the Party’s vision and the people’s aspirations. From this foundation, VSS continues to serve as a pillar of social security, helping realize the aspiration for a strong, prosperous, sustainable nation where people are protected, work with peace of mind, contribute, and build the future.