Vietnam expands free health insurance coverage to vulnerable groups

Under the revised Health Insurance Law and Decree 188/2025/ND‑CP, Vietnam’s BHYT fund now pays 100 % of the cost for a range of beneficiaries when they seek treatment on the correct referral line. The groups include veterans, people who served the revolution, active police and military personnel, children under six, households classified as poor, ethnic minorities living in especially difficult regions, monthly social‑assistance recipients, and individuals who have been continuously enrolled in BHYT for at least five years and whose yearly out‑of‑pocket expenses exceed six times the basic salary.

A new low‑cost exemption applies from 1 July: with the basic salary set at VND 2.53 million, any single outpatient bill below 15 % of that amount (VND 379 500) is fully covered by the fund. Bills above that threshold are reimbursed according to the existing 50 %, 80 % or 95 % co‑payment rates, depending on the patient’s eligibility and whether the care is on‑ or off‑network. Additional measures broaden coverage for out‑of‑network outpatient services in designated facilities, provide direct refunds for special cases, and raise the maximum equipment reimbursement to VND 113.85 million per procedure.

The reform also grants free BHYT cards to several new categories: permanent militia members, seniors aged 75 and above, near‑poor seniors aged 70‑74 receiving monthly aid, and people without pensions who receive regular social assistance. These changes aim to reduce financial barriers to healthcare and improve early diagnosis and treatment for millions of Vietnamese citizens.