Achieving the goal of universal health insurance coverage: Leverage from specific policies

To achieve the goal of taking care of people's health, health insurance is not only a card, but also a strong commitment of the Party, State and local authorities to social security.

In recent years, Quang Ninh province has gradually brought health insurance policies closer to the people, especially specific policies that have been proactively and synchronously issued, gradually realizing the goal of universal health insurance coverage in a sustainable direction.

Social Insurance Region VIII (Quang Ninh) launched propaganda about social insurance and health insurance in 2025.

Quang Ninh is asserting its position as a dynamically developing locality, with high economic growth rates and increasingly improved people's lives. However, what makes the difference is not only the growth figures, but the province also puts social welfare, especially health insurance policy, into the central task of its sustainable development strategy.

The province has proactively issued a series of specific policies from the local budget to support many target groups, in addition to the regimes prescribed by the State. Some typical policies include: Resolution No. 21/2021/NQ-HDND supporting 100% of health insurance costs for people aged 70 to under 80; Resolution No. 16/2021/NQ-HDND supporting the entire cost of purchasing health insurance cards for ethnic minorities, residents of mountainous, border and island areas in the period of 2021-2025; Resolution No. 131/NQ-HDND setting specific targets on health insurance coverage rates by 2025; Resolution No. 35/2024/NQ-HDND increases the support level for near-poor households from 70% to 100%, and from 30% to 80% for farming, forestry, fishery, and salt-making households with average living standards.

These practical policies not only affirm the province's pioneering role in social security work, but also directly create favorable conditions for people to access quality healthcare services.

In the first 6 months of 2025, the number of people participating in health insurance in the whole province reached more than 1.3 million people, an increase of more than 7,000 people compared to the end of 2024. The health insurance coverage rate reached 95.71%, 2.36% higher than the national average. This is an impressive number demonstrating the effectiveness of the government's synchronous policies and the consensus of the people in the whole province.

Social Insurance officers of Region VIII and Provincial Post Office officers propagate and mobilize people to participate in voluntary social insurance and family health insurance in Hong Gai ward (April 2025).

To maintain and further improve the health insurance coverage rate, the Social Insurance Agency of Region VIII has been implementing many synchronous solutions. The focus is on promoting propaganda and raising people's awareness of the role and benefits of participating in health insurance, especially for those who have not yet participated.

Every year, the Social Insurance of Region VIII coordinates with local departments, branches and organizations to organize launching ceremonies, issuing hundreds of thousands of leaflets and guidance documents. Along with that, hundreds of propaganda conferences and policy dialogues have been organized in communes and wards, helping people access information accurately and clearly.

In addition to communication activities, the Social Insurance sector also focuses on administrative reform and information technology application. The effective implementation of the Social Insurance Digital Application (VssID) helps people look up health insurance information, pay fees, and monitor the medical examination and treatment process right on their phones. Using ID cards instead of health insurance cards when examining and treating patients also helps simplify procedures and save time for people.

In particular, the Social Insurance of Region VIII has proactively reviewed the subjects that are being supported under the policy, especially the group of people who have just escaped poverty and near-poverty. This is a group at risk of falling into a state of lack of health insurance cards if there is no timely support policy. The Social Insurance sector has reported to the Provincial People's Committee to continue maintaining the support level of 100% of health insurance costs, and at the same time coordinate with departments and branches to research and propose the issuance of new policies to replace them after the current resolutions expire at the end of 2025.

The early proposal, evaluation and submission to the Provincial People's Council for issuance of a new resolution in the fourth quarter of 2025 is to ensure continuity in policy and avoid interruption of people's health insurance benefits.

According to Deputy Director of Social Insurance Region VIII Nguyen Huy Thong, the special policies that Quang Ninh has issued in recent years have helped people, especially the poor, easily access primary health care services. This is a clear manifestation of the humanity and superiority in the policies of the Party, State and provincial government, creating a solid foundation to move towards the goal of universal health insurance coverage.

Doctors from Binh Lieu Medical Center examine local people.

Health insurance has truly become a "lifesaver" for many families when facing health risks, especially those with low incomes, people with chronic diseases, the elderly and ethnic minorities. Not only does it help reduce the financial burden when sick, health insurance also contributes to ensuring fairness in access to health services, thereby improving the quality of life and happiness index of the people.

2025 is the final year of implementing many of the province's health insurance support resolutions, and is also a key time to evaluate and adjust policies for the next phase. With the strong and synchronous direction of the provincial government and the social insurance sector, Quang Ninh is gradually moving closer to the goal of universal health insurance coverage.

Health insurance is not just a simple health policy but a bridge between community responsibility and individual rights, the foundation of a humane and sustainable society. Quang Ninh's proactive, decisive and humane steps have been, are and will continue to be a typical model of effective social security policy development, contributing to the realization of the goal of "leaving no one behind".

Duong Truong

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/don-bay-tu-nhung-chinh-sach-dac-thu-3366625.html