Ho Chi Minh City proposes free health insurance for seniors aged 60-64 and expands coverage for vulnerable groups

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Council has drafted a proposal to subsidise 100 % of the health‑insurance premium for residents aged 60 to under 65. If adopted, almost 196 000 seniors would receive free health‑insurance cards, with an estimated annual budget impact of about VND 267.6 billion. The measure follows national legislation and mirrors programmes already in place in Hanoi and Hai Phong, aiming to raise city‑wide health‑insurance coverage above 95 % by 2026.

The city also submitted a joint request to the Ministries of Health, Finance and Social Insurance to remove obstacles in the payment of BHYT benefits for people cared for at social‑assistance centres – including the elderly, severely disabled, mentally ill and others unable to travel. The request seeks regulatory clarification so that BHYT can be paid for mobile, home‑based and remote medical services, addressing licensing and payment‑process issues that currently limit access for these vulnerable groups.