Ho Chi Minh City proposes free health insurance for elderly residents

This initiative is part of a broader effort to harmonize social welfare, including health insurance, across the newly expanded city following the merger with the former southern provinces of Binh Duong and Ba Ria–Vung Tau.

Before the merger, each locality operated its own support framework established by its respective People’s Council.

Based on these frameworks, the municipal Social Insurance Agency has outlined a post-merger policy that consolidates the most suitable provisions previously offered across the three jurisdictions.

Accordingly, the agency recommends that the local budget fully cover health insurance premiums for individuals aged 60 to under 75 who are not covered by pensions or state aid.

In addition, the proposal includes partial premium subsidies for other vulnerable groups such as individuals with critical illnesses, those who have exhausted unemployment benefits and remain jobless after three months, orphaned children, students from poor and near-poor households, and individuals with mild disabilities.

These new initiatives are expected to be formally presented to the municipal People’s Council at its final session of 2025 for consideration.

Should they be approved, more than 2.85 million residents would benefit, with an estimated annual budget requirement of around VND1.59 trillion ($60.8 million), said Lo Quan Hiep, deputy director of the municipal Social Insurance Agency.