Ho Chi Minh City Proposes Full Health Insurance Subsidy for People Aged 60 to 74 and Frequent Blood Donors

Ho Chi Minh City is considering full health insurance support for residents aged 60 to under 75 and for people who have donated blood at least 20 times.

The city People’s Committee is seeking public feedback on a draft resolution covering older people, students and voluntary blood donors. Under the proposal, residents in the 60-to-74 age group who have permanent residence in the city and do not already receive health insurance support from another policy would have 100% of their contributions covered.

Frequent blood donors would also qualify for full support if they had donated at least 20 times and continued to donate at least twice a year. Eligible donors would receive a health insurance card valid for 12 months. Continued donations would allow them to receive support for later coverage periods.

The draft also proposes an additional 50% subsidy for students in general education, including learners enrolled in lower- and upper-secondary continuing education programs at public and private institutions in the city.

Health officials said the proposal responds to Vietnam’s rapid population aging and the rising need for medical care among older residents, who face higher risks of chronic and multiple illnesses. A review estimated that about 195,918 residents aged 60 to under 65 currently lack state support for their health insurance contributions. At an annual contribution of more than 1.3 million dong per person, the estimated cost would be about 267.6 billion dong a year. The policy is intended to reduce financial pressure, particularly for low-income people, informal workers and those who have stopped working but do not yet qualify for a pension or other insurance assistance.