On the afternoon of November 27, the National Assembly officially passed the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Health Insurance Law, with important new points as follows:
1. Update subjects and responsibilities to participate in health insurance:
- Adjust the participants, methods, and time limit for paying health insurance to synchronize with relevant laws such as the Law on Social Insurance.
2. Regulations on medical examination and treatment under health insurance:
- Update regulations on initial medical examination registration and patient transfer between facilities according to technical and professional level according to the 2023 Medical Examination Law.
3. Expanding the benefits of health insurance card holders:
- No distinction between administrative boundaries in health insurance benefits, expanding benefits for rare and critical diseases.
- Support for treatment of strabismus and refractive errors for people under 18 years old.
Managing chronic diseases at the grassroots level to increase treatment effectiveness.
4. Cost and payment adjustments:
- Regulations on the time limit for notification of results of medical examination costs.
5. Additional payment mechanism: drugs and medical equipment transferred between medical facilities.
6. Handling violations:
- Specific regulations on late payment and evasion of health insurance payment and handling measures.
7. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Health:
- Regularly update treatment regimens and evaluate the effectiveness of providing medical services.
8. Issuing electronic health insurance cards:
- Ensure transparency, efficiency, and compliance with the Social Insurance Law.
Effective date: The law will take effect from July 1, 2025.
