Vietnam expands health insurance to cover 50% of outpatient costs at selected facilities

Effective 1 July 2026, Vietnam's Social Insurance Agency will widen the benefits of the compulsory health insurance (BHYT). Insured persons who seek outpatient care at designated basic or specialized health centres will receive a reimbursement equal to 50 % of their insured benefit level for disease groups that were previously excluded from coverage. The 50 % payment is calculated on the portion of the bill that falls within the insured benefit, not on the total charge.

The new rule applies only to facilities meeting specific legal criteria—basic-level centres previously classified as provincial or central tier, those with an evaluation score between 50 and 70, and certain specialized centres. For diseases already listed by the Ministry of Health, the fund continues to pay 100 % of the benefit amount. The policy also introduces a salary‑base threshold that influences the reimbursement calculation for lower‑cost services.