On September 14, the People's Committee of Gia Lai province said that it had sent a document to the Ministry of Health and Social Insurance (VSS) of Vietnam regarding the application of health insurance (HI) policies for a number of subjects participating in health insurance in the province.
Recently, Gia Lai province has directed specialized agencies to implement health insurance policies to ensure compliance with the regulations and instructions of the Ministry of Health and Social Insurance of Vietnam. However, the implementation process for social pension beneficiaries still faces some difficulties and inadequacies.
Through review, the application of Decree No. 176/2025/ND-CP dated June 30, 2025 (abbreviated as Decree 176) of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Social Insurance Law on social pension benefits and related legal documents has created 2 different health insurance benefits for the same group of subjects - monthly social allowance beneficiaries.
Group 1: People who are receiving monthly social allowances according to Decree No. 20/2021/ND-CP dated March 15, 2021 of the Government are entitled to 100% health insurance (BT card code). When switching to receiving monthly social pension benefits according to Decree 176 from July 1, 2025, this group will continue to receive 100% health insurance (HP card code).
Group 2: According to the Law on Health Insurance, people aged 75 and over (including those aged 80 and over) who receive monthly social pension benefits for the first time from July 1, 2025 will only receive 80% health insurance.
The existence of 2 health insurance benefits for the same group of beneficiaries with similar conditions and circumstances has caused a lack of unity and unfairness in the implementation of social security policies, causing concerns and questions among the public and beneficiaries themselves.
At the same time, it creates a significant financial burden for the elderly - a group often suffering from many underlying diseases, chronic diseases, and high demand for medical examination and treatment.
The remaining 20% of expenses is a significant burden for those without pensions, living mainly on subsidies, which can become a barrier that makes it difficult for them to fully access the necessary medical services.
This does not fully demonstrate the humanity and superiority of the policy, which risks reducing the goal of ensuring social security and health care for the entire population, especially for the elderly and disadvantaged.
Faced with these shortcomings, the People's Committee of Gia Lai province proposed that the Ministry of Health consider and coordinate with Vietnam Social Insurance and relevant ministries and branches to study and submit to the Government for consideration and adjustment of policies in the direction of unifying the application of the health insurance benefit level of 100% for all beneficiaries of monthly social pension benefits according to Decree 176, regardless of the time of receiving.
