According to information from the Vietnam Social Security (VSS), regional social security agencies and provincial and municipal social security agencies will continue to use old health insurance card templates until May 31.

From June 1, new paper health insurance cards will only be issued for cases where VssID, VNeID cannot be installed and there is no citizen identification card with chip.

Only issue paper cards when "digital transformation" is not possible

Vietnam Social Security has just issued a document guiding regional social security agencies and provincial and municipal social security agencies on the use of health insurance card blanks.

According to Vietnam Social Security, after the Government's decision on the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam Social Security is a special unit under the Ministry of Finance.

The Director of Vietnam Social Security is assigned the responsibility of organizing and arranging for units under and affiliated to Vietnam Social Security to operate under the new model within a maximum period of three months from February 24.

To ensure the rights of health insurance participants during the time of organizing and arranging units to operate under the new model and implementing savings and anti-waste, the Social Insurance of regions and Social Insurance of provinces and cities continue to use the old health insurance card blanks until May 31.

From June 1, for cases of requesting to reissue or exchange health insurance cards, health insurance participants will be guided to install the digital social insurance application (VssID), VNeID application and instructions on using the health insurance card image on the VssID, VNeID application; citizen identification card with chip to go to medical examination and treatment instead of paper health insurance card.

Issuance of new paper health insurance cards is only carried out in cases where VssID, VNeID cannot be installed and there is no citizen identification card with chip.

Regional Social Insurance and Social Insurance of provinces and cities are responsible for implementing the above contents. If there are any problems during the implementation process, please report to Vietnam Social Insurance for consideration and resolution.

Propose to issue paper cards when health insurance participants request

In the draft decree guiding the revised Law on Health Insurance, the Ministry of Health is also seeking opinions on the procedures for issuing health insurance cards to people.

The Ministry of Health clearly states that the Social Insurance agency is responsible for providing each health insurance participant with an electronic health insurance card.

In case the health insurance participant requests, the social insurance agency will issue a paper health insurance card.

In case of issuing electronic health insurance cards, within 5 working days from the date of receiving complete documents as prescribed, the Social Insurance agency will return the electronic health insurance card results to the VNeID account, VssID application, and email.

Health insurance participants use electronic devices with VNeID or VssID installed and an Internet connection to receive electronic health insurance cards.

In case of issuing a paper health insurance card, within 5 working days from the date of receiving a complete application as prescribed, the Social Insurance agency shall transfer the paper health insurance card to the health insurance participant or the organization managing the subject to transfer it back to the health insurance participant.

For children under 6 years old, the issuance of health insurance is carried out in conjunction with birth registration and permanent residence registration procedures according to Government regulations.

The revised Law on Health Insurance is expected to take effect from July 1.