Diversifying insurance agents

Hanoi has 30 districts with nearly 8 million people. Due to diverse classes of residents, it is hard to encourage people to participate in voluntary social insurance and household health insurance. To deal with the problem, departments and agencies in the city have made efforts to expand the network of insurance agents, while intensifying communications work.

Persistently encouraging the public to join social, health insurance

At 5pm on a day of late March, Nguyen Thi Minh Yen, a worker of an insurance agent in Tich Giang commune, Phuc Tho district, was still busy taking note of information of people who had registered to join voluntary social insurance and household health insurance.

Asked about what she is doing, Yen said “My job is coming to every household to popularise social and health insurance policies. I convey my greetings to people I know on the street. After we understand each other, I will tell them about the significance of social and health insurance, which protects themselves and their families, and contributes to the community. Now, they often think about social and health insurance when they meet me.”

Yen (in white) is talking with Cao Thi Huong, Director of Phuc Tho district’s Post Office

Yen said she often faces the question that “has your family participated in social and health insurance?” If we have yet to take part in social and health insurance, we cannot persuade others to join although we say beautiful words. She, therefore, persuaded her husband to participate in voluntary social insurance and household health insurance.

“At first, I thought that I join social and health insurance as a precaution. However, after being hospitalised for several times and thinking about the future, I understand values of social and health insurance. I determined to encourage other people to participate in social and health insurance as many of them share my opinions,” Yen said.

With her enthusiasm and dedication, Yen come to households every day to popularise and guide locals to register for social and health insurance. She has encouraged about ten people to participate in social and health insurance each month, helping to lengthen the list of participants in Tich Giang commune.

Yen said the book with information of the participants helps her monitor the validity of their insurance cards and ask them to continue to register for social and health insurance.

It was nearly 6pm when Yen said she had to visit some households as scheduled. “I have no fixed timetable. I often meet people out-of-office time and help them complete procedures if they agree to join social and health insurance,” she added.

Cao Thi Huong, Director of Phuc Tho district’s Post Office, said Yen is one of the workers of insurance agents under the district’s Post Office. Since the end of 2015, Phuc Tho’s Social Security and Post Office have coordinated to open this agent system, which has become a trustworthy address to many locals.

“Small rain lays great dust”

Hanoi’ s Tay Ho district, the capital of flowers and bonsais, has made outstanding performance in social welfare work, with many people and organisations were eager to participate in expanding the coverage of social and health insurance.

According to Nguyen Thi Viet Ha, Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Thuy Khue ward, health insurance covered 83.3 percent of the ward’s population. She attributed the result to efforts made by the entire local political system, including insurance agents of the ward and the women’s association.

“The launch of more insurance agents is necessary as each organisation and collective have its own advantages and ways, helping maintain and develop the number of social and health insurance card holders,” she stressed.

At an insurance agent of the Thuy Khue ward women’s association located at the ward’s cultural house, Nguyen Thi Bao, president of the association, was busy explaining social and health insurance policies to a middle-aged women although it was late. The consultation took place in a joyful and natural environment, with questions about age, health and work of each other.

La Thi Hien, residing in No. 121A, Thuy Khue district, had completed procedures to participate in household health insurance. She said “Through the ward women’s association, I understand benefits of health insurance, and that health insurance participants will receive the highest support from the State, with many even having to pay only 40 percent of the card value. I, therefore, decided to buy health insurance for all of my six family members.”

Bao said since she became a staff of the insurance agent, she has chances to visit each family and share life stories with them. All her family member have participated in social and health insurance, and considered the social insurance book as a saving book for their old age.

“I go to work regardless of time and weather conditions. I explain social and health insurance policies to people when I go to the market, attend a meeting of the residential area, visit sick people and go out with my grandchildren. I persistently pursue the job as it is meaningful,” Bao said.

All wards in Tay Ho district have established insurance agents of women’s associations, with publicised phone numbers, in order to serve people round-the-clock. With their patience, members of the women’s associations have come to each family to encourage them to participate in voluntary social insurance and household health insurance.