According to statistics, the number of people participating in health insurance in Yen Bai province currently exceeds 733,000, reaching 92.75% of the plan assigned by the Vietnam Social Security (VSS). In July 2021, when Decision No. 861/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister approving the list of 1, 2, 3 areas of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas for the period of 2021-2025 took effect, the health insurance coverage rate of the province decreased from 97.3% to 76.8%. As of February 2023, the health insurance coverage rate has reached nearly 86%. Based on the results of building new rural areas in the province, the number of people participating in health insurance is expected to continue to decrease.

The current low health insurance coverage rate in the province is due to the fact that in 2023, Yen Bai province has many communes that meet the new rural area standards, so the number of people participating in health insurance, which is covered by the state budget, has decreased significantly. Although the social security agency has implemented many measures and solutions, coordinated with local authorities and related agencies to flexibly disseminate information and encourage people to participate in health insurance according to different groups and households, the awareness of some people is still limited. In addition, the economic conditions of the people are still facing many difficulties, so they have not participated in health insurance.

Yen Bai social security office actively disseminates policies to ethnic minority communities.

To overcome the impact of Decision No. 861/QD-TTg on health insurance coverage in the province, the Yen Bai province’s social security agency has cooperated with relevant departments and units to advise the provincial People's Committee on issuing many directives on implementing Decision No. 861/QD-TTg. The agency has advised the provincial People's Council to issue Resolution No. 25/NQ-HDND dated July 6, 2022, which stipulates the policy of supporting health insurance payment for people with permanent residence in communes that meet the new rural area standards from 2022-2025. The agency has also issued many related documents to provide guidance and direction on this matter.

Illustrative image (internet)

In addition, with the motto “Come to every alley, every house, and check on every citizen”, the Yen Bai province’s social security agencyhas directed district-level and town-level social security agencies to actively coordinate with local authorities and relevant agencies to organize customer conferences and small-group propaganda sessions in each market and household to disseminate information and encourage people to participate in health insurance under different categories such as the poor, near-poor, social protection beneficiaries, students, and family health insurance. So far, 156,000 people who were affected by Decision No. 861/QD-TTg have been encouraged to continue participating in health insurance, but there are still over 72,000 people who have not participated, mostly those who face difficulties and cannot afford health insurance.

In order to change people's awareness, propaganda work in the coming time needs to be paid more attention and must be recognized as a long process. If there is only persistence and efforts from the social security agency, it will be difficult to achieve the goal of health insurance coverage without the involvement of the political system, all levels of government, and local authorities. Through this, people and workers can fully understand the importance and benefits of participating in health insurance for themselves and their families, and then voluntarily participate as an essential need to ensure their life in old age and to take care of their health./.