How long is validity period of health insurance cards in Vietnam?

How long is validity period of health insurance cards in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Official Dispatch 3340/BHXH-ST of 2017, the health insurance card only records the time the health insurance card begins to be valid and does not record the expiration date on the health insurance card.

Decision 1666/QD-BHXH in 2020 promulgating a new health insurance card model also only has information about when the health insurance card begins to be valid, not the card's expiration date.

To determine the duration of the health insurance card, you can base on Clause 8, Article 13 of Decree 146/2018/ND-CP stipulating validity period of health insurance cards as follows:

8. With regard to others, each health insurance card shall be valid from the first date of payment of health insurance contribution. If the policyholders referred to in clause 4 of Article 4, Article 5 and 6 hereof participate in the health insurance for the first time or do not incessantly participate in the health insurance for at least 3 months in a financial year, each health insurance card shall have the validity period of 12 months from the date on which it is in effect as per point c of clause 3 of Article 16 in the Law on Health Insurance.

Pursuant to Article 5 of Decree 146/2018/ND-CP on group of family-based health insurance policyholders as follows:

1. Persons whose names are inscribed in family household records, except those subjects specified in Article 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 hereof.

2. Persons whose names are inscribed in temporary residence records, except those specified in Article 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 hereof and those already participating in health insurance as prescribed in clause 1 of this Article.

3. The following persons eligible for family-based participation in health insurance:

a) Dignitaries, sub-dignitaries and clergy;

b) Persons residing in social relief establishments, except for those defined in Articles 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 hereof without health insurance contributions supported by the state budget.

According to this Article, your health insurance card is valid from the date the participant pays the health insurance premium and participates in health insurance for the first time or participates intermittently for 3 months or more in the fiscal year. The health insurance card has a validity period of 12 months from the date the health insurance card becomes valid in Vietnam.

How long is validity period of health insurance cards in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What information is included in health insurance cards issued by competent social insurance agencies in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 12 of Decree 146/2018/ND-CP regulating health insurance cards:

Health insurance cards shall be issued by competent social insurance agencies and contain the following information:

1. Personal information of a policyholder, including full name, gender, date of birth, permanent residence or workplace address.

2. Health insurance coverage rate stipulated in Article 14 hereof.

3. Start date of a health insurance card.

4. Name of the primary healthcare establishment.

5. The consecutive 5-year or longer period of health insurance participation of policyholders making co-payment of healthcare costs. The consecutive period of health insurance participation refers to the date subsequent to the previous date of issue inscribed on a health insurance card; in case of an interval, it must be less than 03 months.

With respect to persons dispatched by competent authorities to go on an educational or business trip; spouses, natural children, or legally adopted children aged under 18 years, accompanying their parents serving terms of office at Vietnam’s overseas missions, their overseas stay period shall be accepted as the period of health insurance participation.

With respect to employees working abroad, the period of their health insurance participation before their overseas work shall be assumed as the period of health insurance participation if they resume participating in the health insurance within duration of 30 days from the date of their entry.

If employees await completion of required procedures for entitlement to unemployment benefits as provided by the Law on Employment, the period of the previous health insurance participation shall be assumed as the period of health insurance participation.

With respect to policyholders, referred to in point a of clause 3 of Article 12 of the Law on Health Insurance, who retire, are demobilized, transfer to other business or resign, if they have not yet participated in the health insurance during the period of their study or military service in the people’s army, the people’s public security force or a cryptographic body, that period shall be assumed as the consecutive period of health insurance participation.

6. Photo of the policyholder (not applicable to children under 6 years of age) in case where he/she does not have any photo personal identification document issued by competent bodies or authorities, or any certificate issued by commune-level police authorities or other documents endorsed by educational institutions or vocational education establishments in charge of management of pupils or students, or other legitimate personal identity documents.

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