Deputy General Director of Vietnam Social Security (VSS) Tran Dinh Lieu directed the Conference.

The development of health insurance beneficiaries is still facing difficulties

Mr. Duong Van Hao – Director of Department of Contribution Collection – Insurance Book and Card said that as of November 20, the number of participants in health insurance was 86.35 million, reaching a rate of about 89.2% of the population participating in health insurance. The current coverage rate is 1.5% lower than the target set in Decision 1167/QD-TTg. Accordingly, the number needed to develop until the end of the year to reach the target of 90.9% assigned by VSS is 1.7 million people.

23 provinces have got higher coverage of health insurance than the targets assigned in Decision 1167/QD-TTg, 40 provinces have got lower coverage rates than those assigned in Decision 1167/QD-TTg, some provinces got much lower than the assigned targets are Bac Lieu (12.3% lower in comparison), Binh Thuan (9.7%), Tay Ninh (9.7%), Dong Nai (8.4%), Ho Chi Minh City (8%).

Regarding the development of health insurance for pupils and students, Hao informed, up to now, the number of people participating in health insurance in this group is 21 million compared to the total 23 million people in the target assigned by VSS. The rate of participation in health insurance at vocational schools is low, reaching lower than 50% in some places.

Mr. Duong Van Hao - Department of Contribution Collection – Insurance Book and Card presented a report at the Conference.

Representatives of social insurance authorities in some provinces and cities reported at the conference, facing the heavy impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the development of health insurance beneficiaries still has been facing difficulties. A large proportion of people "escaped from poverty" no longer belong to the group of beneficiaries of state budget support to buy health insurance cards and left the health insurance system; thin agency system, unconvincing propaganda skills of many areas; a few collection officers have not closely followed with campuses, wards, communes, towns, etc.

Further determination to fulfill the targets

At the conference, VSS Deputy General Director Tran Dinh Lieu emphasized, as the year 2020 is coming to an end in less than 2 months, the social security authorities of provinces and cities should focus on finding breakthrough and drastic solutions in developing beneficiaries of health insurance, fulfilling the target of covering 90% of the population of the country as assigned by the Government.

To continue to follow the instructions of VSS to fulfill assigned targets and tasks, to actively seek ways to resolve difficulties and problems, especially in the collection and development of participants of health insurance. To review and base on the situation of the locality to apply suitable solutions; to closely follow the basis to propagate and mobilize people to participate in an effective form.

63 sites of social insurance authorities of provinces and cities.

Leaders of social insurance authorities in provinces and cities need to strengthen the implementation of data review from tax authorities and data from agencies of labor management and Planning and Investment to develop subjects participating in compulsory social insurance.

To coordinate with relevant departments and branches to advise the Provincial People's Committee to extract from the local budget or call on organizations, individuals and businesses to buy and donate health insurance cards to people, pupils and students with difficult circumstances, especially in the localities that have been damaged by rain or flood.

At the same time, in coordination with the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs and educational institutions, to mobilize 100% of pupils and students, especially those in universities and colleges, vocational schools, grade 10 students, second year students and onwards.

To coordinate with collection agents (post offices, wards, communes, etc.) to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to participate in voluntary social insurance and health insurance in many flexible forms such as direct mobilization or organization of customer conferences, etc. To prioritize propagating and mobilizing potential groups of income earners, employees who are reserving, enjoying unemployment benefits or postponing labor contracts, pupils and students studying at educational and vocational training institutions.

To strengthen the task of urging debt collection at enterprises, promote the efficiency of the inter-branch debt collector and conduct extraordinary specialized inspections for businesses with debts of 3 months or more, units that have not or fully paid for workers. To resolutely handle violating units; to transfer the file to the investigating agency to propose consideration of criminal handling of the units that intentionally violate according to the provisions of law.

Some localities need to pay more attention to the group of workers who have just suspended or terminated labor contracts due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, bringing this group to participate in household-based health insurance./.