Vietnam has set target to provide health insurance for all elderly people nationwide by 2021, said Deputy General Director of Vietnam Social Security Tran Dinh Lieu at a recent meeting held by the Vietnam National Committee on Ageing (VNCA).

Mr. Lieu said if plans and targets are implemented in accordance with a specific roadmap, Vietnam can complete its plan on health insurance coverage for the people, especially the elderly.

"We are determined to fulfill health insurance coverage for the remaining 5% of the poor senior citizens by 2021," said the deputy general director.

Nearly 89% of Vietnam population covered by health insurance by mid-2020. Photo: Hien Minh

According to a report by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Vietnam had nearly 13 million elderly people (aged 60 and above) in 2020, accounting for 12% of the population, with about 1.98 million aged over 80, and approximately 7.7 million elderly people living in rural areas.

The Vietnamese government allocated about VND18 trillion (US$779.69 million) for assisting the elderly in the community. Specifically, more than 1.8 million elderly people received monthly stipend, over 1.4 million who are revolutionary veterans receive financial aids, and 3.1 million enjoy pensions and social insurance benefits.

Besides, 12.1 million senior citizens currently have enrolled in health insurance.

According to the VNCA, in 2021, ministries, sectors and localities will focus on implementing policies related to the elderly in close association with multidimensional poverty reduction policies.

The number of health insurance enrollments in Vietnam reached 85.428 million people, or 89% of the country’s population by mid-2020, according to the Government Portal.

This is the sixth year the Law on Health Insurance (amended) came into force which sets out a number of breakthrough provisions that have brought about drastic changes in developing health insurance policies.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health is coordinating with the Vietnam Social Security to develop personal electronic health records which will help Vietnamese citizens manage their own health information during lifetime, proactively prevent disease and take initiative in taking care of their own health.