Nghe An: Solutions to achieve the goal of health insurance coverage for students

Nearly 4% of students have not participated in health insurance.

In the 2021-2022 school year, the whole province has 672,404 students, of which 650,609 participate in health insurance, reaching a rate of 96.76%. Meanwhile, Clause 4, Article 12 of the Law on Health Insurance amended and supplemented in 2014 clearly stipulates that students are subjects participating in compulsory health insurance, meaning that this policy aims to cover 100% of the school-age population.

Results of participation in student health insurance for the 2021-2022 school year. Graphics: Huu Quan

4 localities have lower rates of students participating in health insurance than the provincial average. Graphics: Huu Quan

Ms. Pham Thi Phuong Lan - school health officer at Vinh Tan Secondary School (Vinh City) said that one of the reasons why the rate of health insurance participation for students has not reached 100% is because many parents do not fully understand the humane meaning of the health insurance policy, and are still subjective because their children are healthy. Besides, in many cases, due to financial constraints and large families, the amount of money to participate in health insurance (even though the State has supported 30%) is still a big difficulty.

Presenting health insurance cards to students of Cua Nam 1 Primary School. Photo: My Ha

Dien Chau is one of the districts with a lower health insurance participation rate than the average of the whole province. Mr. Dao Van Dan - Director of the District Social Insurance said: The local characteristics are that the educational level of the people is uneven, the life of the people, especially in coastal areas, is still difficult, income is unstable, mainly based on agriculture or fishing, so for many families, especially families with many children, participating in full health insurance for their children is impossible.

In addition, for families with many children, or those belonging to agricultural, forestry, fishery, and salt-making households with an average living standard (supported by the provincial budget with an additional 15% of the contribution), participating in family health insurance will have a lower contribution rate than student health insurance, so it is very difficult to propagate for people to understand and agree.

Despite many efforts, in the 2021-2022 school year, the health insurance participation rate for students in Dien Chau district only reached 91.86%.

The Youth Union of the Provincial Social Insurance propagates the health insurance policy for students of Nghi Phu Secondary School (Vinh City). Photo: My Ha

Despite always receiving timely attention and direction from Party committees and authorities at all levels as well as coordination from relevant sectors, achieving the goal of 100% of students participating in health insurance still faces many difficulties.

In particular, in the 2021-2022 school year, implementing Decision No. 861/QD-TTg dated June 4, 2021 of the Prime Minister, from July 1, 2021, more than 100 highland communes of Nghe An are no longer on the list of particularly difficult communes, 187,896 people are no longer eligible for health insurance cards from the State budget and people living in 4 districts in the coastal areas are not on the list of health insurance cards extended according to Document No. 9250/UBND-VX dated December 29, 2020 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province (including students). Most of these families still have economic difficulties and have difficulty in fully participating in health insurance for their children.

Synchronize solutions

In the 2022-2023 school year, the Provincial Social Insurance has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue Official Dispatch No. 6174/UBND-VX directing the implementation of health insurance for students, assigning specific tasks and responsibilities to relevant Departments, branches, units, People's Committees of districts, cities and towns in implementing the work.student health insurance.

At the same time, the Provincial Social Insurance also issued a document directing the Social Insurance of districts and towns to coordinate with the Department of Education and Training and educational and training institutions to assess the situation and results of health insurance implementation for students, thereby proposing measures and solutions to get 100% of students in the area to participate in health insurance.

Provincial Social Insurance officers disseminate the Law on Health Insurance to students of Cua Nam 1 Primary School (Vinh City). Photo courtesy: My Ha

Strengthening the propaganda of health insurance policies for students in schools on responsibilities and benefits when participating in health insurance, especially the responsibilities of students in participating in health insurance; propagating to raise awareness so that parents and students voluntarily participate in health insurance in the 2022-2023 school year.

Continue to call on cadres, civil servants, employees in the whole industry and organizations, units, and benefactors to contribute and support funds to award health insurance cards to students in difficult circumstances. In September 2022, the whole province organized the awarding of 263 health insurance cards to students in difficult circumstances and will continue to award them in the last months of the year. The total number of health insurance cards expected to be awarded is 420 cards.

Timely provide primary health care funding to educational institutions according to regulations so that schools can proactively implement health care work for students.

Nghe An responded to the launching ceremony of the Social Insurance and Health Insurance propaganda campaign by the General Director of Vietnam Social Security. Photo: Thanh Chung

Continue to promote administrative reform, apply information technology, review, reduce and simplify administrative procedures on health insurance, creating the most favorable conditions for students and families when participating in health insurance for their children.

In addition, to achieve the goal of 100% of students participating in health insurance, Nghe An Social Insurance proposes that the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Committee continue to pay attention to and direct the work of Social Insurance, Health Insurance in general and Health Insurance for students in particular; Balance the local budget capacity to have a policy to partially support the health insurance premium for students, especially students in disadvantaged areas and coastal areas who are no longer eligible for state budget support to issue health insurance cards.

Nghe An Social Insurance launched a campaign to promote participation in social insurance and health insurance. Photo: Thanh Chung

Proposing all levels and sectors, especially the Education and Training sector, to strengthen coordination with the Provincial Social Insurance, effectively implement Official Dispatch No. 6174/UBND-VX dated August 16, 2022 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on the implementation of health insurance for students in the 2022-2023 school year to ensure 100% of students participate in health insurance.