An overview of the seminar

The health insurance policy for the public, including pupils and students, is a compulsory scheme stated in the Law on Health Insurance. This is also an important step to reach the target of universal health insurance coverage in our country.

The health insurance for pupils and students is a social and non-profit policy implemented by the State in accordance with the Law on Health Insurance and ensures risk sharing among health insurance card owners. The coverage of health insurance among pupils and students has increased over the years.

In the previous school year 2019-20, more than 18.16 million pupils and students, accounting for 95.2 per cent of total students learning at educational institutions and vocational training schools nationwide, participated in health insurance scheme.

The number increased by one per cent compared to that of 2018-19 school year.

Over the past years, health insurance not only ensures primary healthcare for pupils and students, but also reduces risks in case they are unfortunately infected with fatal diseases.

The education and training sector, the VSS and relevant agencies have worked with localities to do a number of activities in order to have 100 per cent of pupils and students participating in health insurance scheme in the 2020-21 school year, especially in the COVID-19-affected situation.

The online seminar provided updated information about the health insurance policy to students and parents as well as active involvement of authorised agencies in the policy implementation in the evolving pandemic.

Responding to questions of participants at the seminar, Dinh Mai Hanh, deputy head of the VSS’s Insurance Notebook and Card Management Board said that as of September 30, 2020, there were 86.7 million people holding health insurance cards nationwide, covering 89.6 per cent of population. About 95.2 per cent of pupils and students hold the cards as of the end of 2019-20 school year, increasing one per cent compared to the previous academic year.

Up to 97.7 per cent of pupils at primary, secondary and high schools hold health insurance cards, becoming the group with the highest participation rate.

The participation level at universities has reached 91.4 per cent.

Colleges and vocational education institutions have lower participation rates, especially for students from the second year onwards.

According to the VSS’s latest statistics, there have been more than 18.11 million pupils and students participating in health insurance scheme across the country.

Among them, more than 13.2 million registered at schools, which means schools make a list of participants and collect insurance payment.

Nearly 5 million other pupils and students, who are from poor families or relatives of soldiers and police, have their payment covered from 70 to 100 per cent by the State.

Dr Nguyen Nho Huy, deputy director of the Physical Education Department under the Ministry of Education and Training said that pupils and students are the group having a high rate of participation in health insurance and the rate has reached basic requirements.

This shows that the education sector always accompanies and works closely with the VSS and local authorities in disseminating the Party and State's guidelines and policies on health insurance, especially the Law on Health Insurance and related documents.

Through trainings and policy dialogues organised by the education sector in co-ordination with the VSS, medical workers at school have been more aware of obligations and healthcare benefits if students apply for health insurance.

“The participation has not reached the expected rate of 100 per cent but the achieved percentage still demonstrates the efforts of the relevant sectors, especially education sector and the VSS,” Dr Huy said./.