Student health insurance: responsibility and sharing

(Baonghean) - From the 2015-2016 school year, according to the Law on Amendments and Supplements to a number of Articles of the Law on Health Insurance, students must pay health insurance increased from 3% of the basic salary to 4.5% and calculated by fiscal year. However, thanks to the efforts of relevant sectors, the support of parents and students, health insurance for students in Nghe An has achieved positive results.

115 General Hospital (Vinh City) provides health check-ups for students of Nghe An University of Economics.

More than 90% of studentsparticipate in health insurance

According to the current Law on Health Insurance, students are required to participate in health insurance. Along with the Project to implement the roadmap towards universal health insurance approved in Decision No. 538-QD/TTg of the Prime Minister. In addition, the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee of Nghe An province also pay special attention and closely direct the field of health insurance for students.

Implementing the direction of the superiors, the provincial Social Insurance proactively coordinated with the Department of Education and Training, the Provincial Youth Union to sign a coordination program, issue relevant documents to guide schools to implement health insurance for students right from the beginning of the school year; agreed with the Department of Education and Training, the Provincial Youth Union to direct the Education Departments, District Youth Unions of the districts to include the target of the rate of students participating in health insurance and the results of implementing school health insurance as one of the criteria for annual emulation, evaluation, and classification of schools, team leaders, secretaries of youth union branches, and school youth unions during the school year.

Propaganda work is focused on in many diverse forms, such as at parent meetings, opening ceremonies, art performances to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers' Day, Traditional Day of Students, extracurricular activities..., contributing to raising awareness of the school board, teachers, parents and students about health insurance policies.

Students learn about the new health insurance policy. (illustrative photo).

Thanks to that, the health insurance work for students in recent times has achieved positive results. In the 2012-2013 school year, the whole province had 83.64% of students participating in health insurance, in the 2013-2014 school year this rate increased to 88.55%...; in the 2015-2016 school year, the first year of implementing the Law on Amendments and Supplements to a number of articles of the Health Insurance Law with many new points, although the increase was high and there were adjustments in the payment method, the health insurance payment for students had a significant growth, reaching 91.26%, equivalent to a total of 497,985 students. In particular, some districts had participation rates exceeding the target (from 95% or more), such as Vinh City (97.49%); TX. Cua Lo (99.12%)... Some mountainous districts, although people's lives are still difficult, also achieved very high results such as Quy Chau (99.95%); Ky Son (98.02%); Tuong Duong (98.48%)...

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich - Principal of Le Mao Secondary School (Vinh City) said: "In the 2015 - 2016 school year, the first year of implementing the revised health insurance collection, we were initially very worried, so in the parent meeting at the beginning of the year, we announced in detail and explained clearly to parents, so we received high consensus. The insurance collection went very smoothly, reaching 100% of students participating in the insurance by December 31, 2016. This school year, for first-grade students, we will continue to review to mobilize parents to participate in insurance for students."

Need for synchronous participation

Health insurance is truly a support for each student, helping them and their families overcome difficulties and illnesses, and study with peace of mind. Many students with serious illnesses who are examined and treated at hospitals are covered by the Health Insurance Fund, amounting to tens of millions of VND. In such cases, health insurance is truly a lifesaver for them and their families.

For example, Phan Cong Bang in Hau Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) was injured in the shoulder and right arm and was treated at the Provincial General Hospital for 19 days, with health insurance paying 79,731,100 VND; Nguyen Thi Minh Tam (Tan Ky town - Tan Ky district) had congenital heart defects and was treated at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital for 21 days, with health insurance paying 64,376,200 VND; Le Khac Hieu (Quynh Van commune, Quynh Luu) had his hospital fees paid by health insurance for more than 47 million VND... and there are many other cases of students who, thanks to the health insurance fund, have been cured of their illnesses and can continue to study with peace of mind.

Nghi Loc District Social Insurance Youth Union propagates health insurance policy in the area.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ha in Vinh Tan Ward (Vinh City) said: “Although my two children studying at Vinh Tan Primary School are both very healthy and developing normally, while my family is not well off, I always pay health insurance for my wife, children and myself. Because I always keep in mind that spending a few hundred thousand to pay for health insurance is not a loss. Suppose my children are unfortunately injured, the Health Insurance Fund will pay, and if they are fine, the small amount of money can sometimes help other families treat their children. By paying for insurance, I can also teach my children about the importance of supporting each other in life!...”.

In addition to the achievements, the health insurance work for students in recent times still has certain limitations. Specifically, nearly 10% of students have not participated, equivalent to about 55,000 cases. If these subjects unfortunately fall seriously ill, it will be very difficult, because in reality, most of the cases not participating in health insurance fall on students who are children of families with difficult circumstances. In addition, the quality of medical examination and treatment at some medical facilities, especially commune-level health facilities, has not really met the needs, medical activities in some schools are still low, negatively affecting the psychology of parents.

Mr. Pham Gia Van - Deputy Director of Nghe An Social Insurance said: "In order for health insurance to truly become a support for each student and their family when they unfortunately encounter health risks, helping them overcome illness and difficulties to study with peace of mind, the Social Insurance industry will continue to promote administrative procedure reform, coordinate with schools to make a list of students participating in health insurance, and issue health insurance cards for students quickly and promptly.

In addition, in coordination with the Department of Education and Training, continue to promote propaganda on health insurance policies for students; strengthen training and professional guidance for health insurance specialists at schools; regularly inspect and monitor health insurance examination and treatment, school health activities; effectively manage and use primary health care funding sources..."./.

Thao Anh