Information you need to know about when student health insurance cards are valid

Specifically, Clause 7, Article 13 of Decree No. 188/2025/ND-CP clearly states that the time when the health insurance card is valid for use by the subjects specified in Point b, Clause 4, Article 12 of the Law on Health Insurance is students of general education institutions paying annual health insurance as follows:

Grade 1 students: From October 1st of the first year of primary school; from the last day of the month the child turns 72 months old in the case specified in Point b, Clause 2 of this Article (in the case of children born after September 30th: from the date of birth to the last day of the month the child turns 72 months old).

Grade 12 students: From January 1 to September 30 of that year. Grade 12 students are encouraged to pay health insurance and enjoy health insurance support until December 31 of the final school year to ensure continuous health insurance benefits, without having to repay the state budget health insurance support fund in case of change of subject.

Clause 8, Article 13 of Decree No. 188/2025/ND-CP stipulates that the subjects specified in Point b, Clause 4, Article 12 of the Law on Health Insurance are students of higher education institutions and vocational education institutions who pay annual health insurance, including:

First-year students of the course: From the date of admission; in case the card of a grade 12 student is still valid after the date of admission, the payment will be made from the date the health insurance card expires.

Final year students: From January 1 to the last day of the month the course ends. Final year students are encouraged to pay health insurance and enjoy health insurance support until December 31 of the final year to ensure continuous health insurance benefits, and do not have to repay the state budget health insurance support fund in case of change of subject.

Health insurance premium for students in the 2025-2026 school year is 631,800 VND/year

According to Decree No. 188/2025/ND-CP of the Government , from July 1, 2025, students nationwide will receive state budget support to increase their health insurance contribution from the current 30% to 50%.

According to current regulations, the monthly health insurance premium for students is calculated at 4.5% of the basic salary. Currently, the basic salary is 2,340,000 VND/month (according to Decree No. 73/2024/ND-CP).

The health insurance premium for a student in one year is: 4.5% × 2,340,000 × 12 months = 1,263,600 VND/year.

With the new minimum support level of 50% from the state budget, students only have to pay a maximum of 631,800 VND/year. Compared to the previous payment level, students get an additional reduction of 252,720 VND/year.

Students can choose the following health insurance payment methods: Pay annually (12 months): 631,800 VND/year; Pay for 6 months: 52,650 VND/month × 6 months = 315,900 VND; Pay for 3 months: 52,650 VND/month × 3 months = 157,950 VND.

The new health insurance premium for students under the 2024 Health Insurance Law is considered suitable for the affordability of many families, while still ensuring full health care benefits for students in accordance with regulations.