The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has submitted a proposal to the Party Committee Standing Board of the municipal government regarding the issuance of a new resolution by the City People’s Council on health insurance (HI) premium support for students and the elderly.

The city aims to introduce a highly favorable support policy for students and older residents to fulfill social welfare goals and achieve universal health insurance coverage, especially after administrative boundary expansions.

Middle school students in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nguyen Hue

According to submission No. 593/TTr-UBND, the city proposes a 100% subsidy on HI premiums for two key groups.

Students attending educational institutions in the city will be fully subsidized for their HI contributions. This includes 50% from existing central government support and an additional 50% from the local city budget.

The second group includes residents aged 65 to under 75 who have permanent residence in the city and are not already covered by other health insurance support policies. Residents aged 75 and older are already eligible for full HI premium support under current Social Insurance and Health Insurance laws.

The goal of this full HI coverage policy is to ensure access to essential healthcare for vulnerable groups. Students, who typically lack stable income, need early protection to prevent illness, maintain good health for their education, and develop lifelong habits of participating in health insurance.

Meanwhile, the elderly are among the most vulnerable in terms of health. They often require frequent medical care but may have limited income or depend financially on family. Supporting this group also reflects the traditional Vietnamese values of "remembering the source of the water we drink" and "respecting the elderly" - principles deeply embedded in the nation’s social welfare philosophy.

To fund this initiative, Ho Chi Minh City estimates a total expenditure of VND 2.138 trillion (approx. USD 87 million) for 2026.

The proposal comes at a significant moment as the city has recently merged with the provinces of Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, which had different HI support policies prior to the merger.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City does not have its own dedicated HI support policies for students and the elderly.

In contrast, former Ba Ria-Vung Tau had fully subsidized HI premiums for residents aged 65 and above, and covered 50% of premiums for students and university students.

Former Binh Duong provided full HI premium support for residents aged 70–79 and offered an additional 20% HI subsidy for disadvantaged students and those in remote areas (classified as Level I communes).

The introduction of a unified resolution is seen as necessary to harmonize policies and ensure fairness and equality in accessing social welfare benefits across the newly merged areas.

Moreover, this move would reinforce public trust in the local government, demonstrate state care and compassion, and reflect the distinctive spirit of kindness and solidarity that defines Ho Chi Minh City.