According to people's reflection, when participating in buying health insurance for the first time, the time to use the health insurance card is 30 days after purchase, the prescribed time is too long, affecting the right to use of health insurance buyers.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan explained that according to Article 16 of the Law on Health Insurance, most participants are allowed to use cards right from the date of health insurance payment. However, groups that are supported by the budget or participate in it non-continuously for 3 months or more must wait 30 days to ensure the principle of sustainable health insurance participation, avoiding the situation of only paying health insurance when suffering from illness.
For groups purchased by employees, employers or state budget employees, cards will be used immediately after completing the fee payment. On the contrary, groups that are partially supported by the State (such as near-poor households, students), or buy health insurance according to households, or take a break from health insurance for more than 3 months, must wait 30 days to take effect.
The Ministry of Health will study and propose appropriate solutions in the coming time.
Also related to the fact that health insurance examination and treatment twice a day cannot be applied is unreasonable, it is recommended to have more flexible regulations for some specific cases of diseases.
Minister Dao Hong Lan affirmed: Currently, there is no limit on the number of health insurance examinations and treatments per day. According to Circular No. 39/2024/TT-BYT, if the patient has been examined and given medicine but returns within the day due to unusual symptoms, the next examination will still be included in the health insurance payment scope. In particular, emergency care will be counted as a new examination.
Regarding the place of initial registration for health insurance examination and treatment, the Ministry of Health said that according to the amended Law on Health Insurance, from January 1, 2025, health insurance participants can have examinations at any facility at the same level nationwide, and there are 62 rare diseases and serious diseases that are entitled to 100% of health insurance payment without a referral letter.
