Health Insurance Premium Rates for Grade 1 Students in 2024 in Vietnam

Are grade 1 students required to participate in health insurance in Vietnam?

Based on Article 12 of the 2008 Health Insurance Law (amended by Clause 6, Article 1 of the 2014 Amended Health Insurance Law), the subjects required to participate in health insurance are as follows:

Subjects Required to Participate in Health Insurance

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4. Groups receiving state budget subsidies for premiums, including:

a) People from near-poor households;

b) Students.

5. Groups participating in health insurance as household members include household members, excluding those categorized in Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this Article.

6. The Government of Vietnam regulates other subjects beyond those stipulated in Clauses 3, 4, and 5 of this Article; stipulates the issuance of health insurance cards for subjects managed by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Public Security as well as those specified in Point 1, Clause 3 of this Article; stipulates the road map for implementing health insurance, the scope of benefits, the levels of health insurance benefits, medical examination and treatment covered by health insurance, the management and use of funds for medical examination and treatment covered by health insurance, health insurance assessment, payment, and settlement of health insurance for subjects specified in Point a, Clause 3 of this Article.

Thus, Grade 1 students are among the subjects required to participate in compulsory health insurance.

Health Insurance Premium Rates for Grade 1 Students in 2024 in Vietnam​ (Image from Internet)

What is the health insurance premium for grade 1 students in Vietnam?

Based on Article 7 of Decree 146/2018/ND-CP:

Health Insurance Premium Levels and Responsibilities

1. The monthly health insurance premium levels for various subjects are as follows:

a) 4.5% of the monthly salary for employees as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 1 of this Decree.

- Employees on leave for illness policies for 14 days or more per month as per social insurance law are exempt from health insurance premiums but still entitled to health insurance benefits;

- Employees temporarily detained, held, or suspended from work for investigation and review to determine whether or not they violated the law will pay monthly premiums amounting to 4.5% of 50% of their monthly salary. If authorities conclude there was no legal violation, employees must retroactively pay health insurance on the back-paid salary;

b) 4.5% of the retirement salary and loss of working capacity allowance for those stipulated in Clause 1, Article 2 of this Decree;

c) 4.5% of the employee's monthly salary before maternity leave for those stipulated in Clause 5, Article 2 of this Decree;

d) 4.5% of the unemployment allowance for those stipulated in Clause 6, Article 2 of this Decree;

dd) 4.5% of the statutory pay rate for other subjects;

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Based on Article 8 of Decree 146/2018/ND-CP:

State Budget Support Levels

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c) A minimum of 30% support for the health insurance premium of those stipulated in Clauses 3 and 4, Article 4 of this Decree.

2. In cases where a person falls into multiple categories qualifying for state budget support as outlined in Clause 1 of this Article, the highest support level will apply.

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Thus, the health insurance premium for Grade 1 students is 4.5% of the statutory pay rate.

According to Article 3 of Decree 73/2024/ND-CP, the statutory pay rate is 2,340,000 VND/month.

Additionally, Grade 1 primary school students are entitled to a minimum of 30% support for the health insurance premium.

The annual health insurance amount to be paid = 4.5% x 2,340,000 x 12 x maximum 70%

Thus, the annual health insurance premium for Grade 1 students is at most 884,520 VND.

What are cases in which grade 1 students in Vietnam are entitled to 100% health insurance?

Based on Clause 1, Article 14 of Decree 146/2018/ND-CP (amended by Point d, Clause 1, Article 183 of Decree 131/2021/ND-CP on health insurance benefit levels for cases in Article 22 of the 2008 Health Insurance Law amended by Clause 15, Article 1 of the 2014 Amended Health Insurance Law):

Health Insurance Benefit Levels for Cases Covered by Clauses 1 and 7, Article 22 of the Health Insurance Law

1. Participants in health insurance when visiting, receiving medical treatment as per Articles 26, 27, and 28 of the Health Insurance Law; Clauses 4 and 5, Article 22 of the Health Insurance Law, will be covered by the health insurance fund for medical treatment costs within the entitlement scope with the following levels:

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c) 100% of medical treatment costs at the commune level;

d) 100% of medical treatment costs for cases where a single treatment cost is less than 15% of the statutory pay rate;

dd) 100% of medical treatment costs when the insured has participated in health insurance for five continuous years or more and the combined annual out-of-pocket medical treatment costs exceed six months' worth of the statutory pay rate, except for cases of unauthorized medical visits and treatments;

e) 95% of medical treatment costs for categories listed in Clause 1, Article 2; Clauses 12, 18, and 19, Article 3; and Clauses 1, 2, and 5 of Article 4 of this Decree;

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Thus, Grade 1 students are entitled to 100% health insurance coverage for medical costs incurred at the commune level or for treatments costing less than 15% of the statutory pay rate per visit.