Proposal: Vietnam's Elderly Aged 75+ to Receive 100% Health Insurance Coverage

Ho Chi Minh City's Social Insurance agency has proposed that all residents aged 75 and older with health insurance cards should have 100% of their medical expenses covered. This initiative aims to enhance healthcare benefits for the elderly and adapt to Vietnam's rapidly aging demographic.

The agency noted that current regulations, while providing 100% coverage for some elderly individuals like those in poor households or receiving social pensions, do not extend this benefit to all seniors over 75 who are pension recipients. This discrepancy has led to questions and dissatisfaction among the population.

Beyond healthcare for seniors, the agency is advocating for broader social insurance coverage. They recommend including technology-based drivers and online sellers on e-commerce platforms under mandatory social insurance. These workers, despite having stable incomes, are not fully covered by current policies.

Furthermore, the proposal seeks to include workers with short-term contracts (under one month) in mandatory social insurance. The agency highlighted that some businesses, particularly in construction and transport, exploit these short contracts to avoid their social insurance obligations. The proposal also suggests stricter enforcement for construction companies, linking their tax settlements to social insurance contributions for their workers.