Dong Nai develops Resolution on subsidizing health insurance premiums for the 2026-2030 period

On the morning of December 9, during the 8th year-end session of the 10th Dong Nai Provincial People’s Council, one of the most practical and meaningful agenda items under consideration was the proposed policy to provide health insurance premium subsidies for several disadvantaged groups in the province during the 2026–2030 period.

The draft resolution is based on a series of key legal foundations issued by central authorities, as well as laws on local administration, the promulgation of legal normative documents, the state budget, and health insurance.

Director of the Department of Health, Do Thi Nguyen, presents the proposal and draft Resolution to subsidize health insurance premiums for some disadvantaged groups in the province during the 2026–2030 period. Photo: Cong Nghia.

According to the Director of the Department of Health, Do Thi Nguyen, the implementation of the health insurance policy in Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc (before the merger) has shown apparent effectiveness. Specifically, during the 2022–2025 period, the former Dong Nai province supported 450,655 beneficiaries with a total budget of over 274 billion VND. Meanwhile, the former Binh Phuoc Province supported 672,455 beneficiaries from 2020 to 2025, with a budget exceeding 154 billion VND.

However, as of October 2025, the province’s health insurance coverage reached only 90.3%, falling short of the 95% target. The two previous support resolutions were set to expire at the end of 2025. Without the introduction of a new policy, the province predicts a risk of declining health insurance participation and an increase in poor and near-poor households, who may be unable to afford medical care.

Director Do Thi Nguyen stated that the drafting of the new resolution aims to help vulnerable groups continue participating in health insurance, thereby improving social welfare, increasing health insurance coverage, and meeting the targets set by Dong Nai Province until 2030. The resolution is being developed in full compliance with legal procedures, within the province’s budgetary capacity, and with consistent application across the province following the administrative reorganization.

The draft resolution consists of six articles that address the scope of adjustment, beneficiaries, support levels, funding sources, the implementation organization, and the effective date. The target groups include: disadvantaged ethnic minorities; people with serious illnesses; individuals aged 70 to 75 in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; workers whose unemployment benefits have ended; households that have escaped poverty; homeless people receiving temporary care; population collaborators; disabled students; village health workers; victims of human trafficking; near-poor households; and agricultural, forestry, and fishery production households with average living standards.

Overview of the session. Photo: Cong Nghia.

According to the draft resolution, the province will fully subsidize health insurance payment levels for the most vulnerable groups, such as ethnic minorities under challenging situations, people with serious illnesses, individuals aged 70 to 75 in communes in Zone I, villages and hamlets in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, workers who have been unemployed for more than three months after their unemployment benefits ended, households that have escaped poverty within 24 months, homeless people receiving care at social facilities, and population collaborators.

The province will provide support as a percentage of health insurance contributions, including 50% for disabled students; village or hamlet health workers; village or hamlet midwives; victims of human trafficking (support for 1 year); 30% for near-poor households; and 20% for households engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries with average living standards. The total budget for implementing the policy for the 2026-2030 period is expected to exceed 841.9 billion VND, averaging about 165-171 billion VND per year, depending on the number of people receiving support.

The issuance of the resolution is considered necessary and urgent to ensure social security, prevent medical risks, and, at the same time, create conditions for Dong Nai to achieve universal health insurance coverage in line with the direction of the Central Government and the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress.

By Ho Thao – Translated by Hong Van, Thu Ha