The Ministry of Health has just issued a document responding to voters' petitions in Lao Cai province, focusing on the level of health insurance (HI) contributions and the determination of job positions at commune-level health stations.
Voters in Lao Cai province have some recommendations related to the health sector. The Ministry of Health has a specific written response.
One of the contents that Lao Cai voters are interested in is the health insurance contribution level for employees and employers.
According to voters' reflections, workers currently pay health insurance at 1.5% of their monthly salary as the basis for compulsory social insurance contributions, while employers pay 3%. Voters proposed to study reducing the health insurance contribution rate for both parties to reduce financial burden, encourage people to participate in health insurance, limit evasion and contribute to ensuring sustainable social security.
Responding to this recommendation, the Ministry of Health said that according to the provisions of the law on health insurance, the total health insurance contribution level for employees working under labor contracts is currently equal to 4.5% of the monthly salary for compulsory social insurance contributions.
In which, employers contribute 3% and employees contribute 1.5%. This contribution level is applied uniformly nationwide to maintain the basic financial resources for the Health Insurance Fund.
The Ministry of Health believes that maintaining the 4.5% contribution level is to ensure that the HI Fund has sufficient resources to pay for medical examination and treatment costs for participants.
In particular, this fund plays an important role in paying treatment costs for cases of serious illnesses, chronic diseases or needing treatment at high costs.
According to the Ministry of Health, this mechanism contributes to sharing risks among health insurance participants, while limiting the risk of workers encountering financial difficulties when unfortunately sick or having to undergo long-term treatment.
