New health insurance policy creates more treatment opportunities for patients

Patients are excited to reduce medical examination costs

From today (July 1), health insurance participants who self-go for outpatient examination and treatment outside the prescribed line at some basic and specialized medical facilities will be paid 50% of the benefit level for diseases and disease groups by the Health Insurance Fund.

Mr. Do Van Son (Ninh Binh) took his child to Hanoi Eye Hospital for eyelid encroachment examination. Previously, he had taken his child to the hospital for examination, but because he did not have a referral letter, he had to pay the costs himself according to regulations. However, on the first day the new policy took effect, he was specifically consulted by medical staff to ensure health insurance benefits.

Mr. Son said that his son's health insurance card is entitled to 80% of the medical examination and treatment costs. According to new regulations, when medical examination is outside the scope of application, the Health Insurance Fund will pay 50% of the card benefit level, equivalent to 40% of the costs within the scope of health insurance payment.

According to Mr. Son, the new policy helps families reduce the cost burden, while creating conditions for patients to proactively go for examination and treatment earlier.

Also taking her mother for eye examination on this occasion, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien (Da Phuc commune, Hanoi) expressed her excitement when she learned that the new HI policy has taken effect. According to her, being supported with additional costs not only helps people feel more secure when going for examination but also encourages herself, her relatives and the community to proactively have periodic health check-ups, thereby detecting diseases early, avoiding the disease progressing severely before treatment.

Hospital proactively implements new policies

At Hanoi Eye Hospital, from July 1, the hospital has proactively updated and fully implemented new regulations on health insurance medical examination and treatment in accordance with the guidance of the management agency. The hospital has reviewed and adjusted the process of receiving, examining and treating patients and paying health insurance; and at the same time organized training for staff to ensure unified and correct implementation of regulations.

In addition, the hospital strengthens counseling and guidance for patients right from the reception stage so that people understand their rights according to the new policy, especially cases of medical examination and treatment not in the original registered place but still enjoying health insurance benefits according to regulations.

According to Dr. Nguyen Manh Hai, Head of the General Planning Department, Hanoi Eye Hospital, right on the first day of implementation, the hospital recorded great interest from people in the new HI policy. However, because these are the first days of implementation, the increase is not too sudden.

We forecast that in the coming time, when people understand more about the new policy, the number of patients coming for health insurance examination, especially cases that do not register for initial medical examination and treatment at the hospital, will continue to increase," Dr. Hai said.

Dr. Hai also added that this is a very practical policy, helping people have more opportunities to access specialized medical facilities suitable for their treatment needs while still sharing a portion of the cost from the health insurance fund.

For the ophthalmology specialty, many diseases need to be detected and treated early to avoid the risk of vision impairment or permanent vision loss. When the cost barrier is reduced, patients will proactively go for examination earlier, and have conditions to choose specialized facilities with full human resources and equipment to be diagnosed and treated promptly.

This policy not only contributes to reducing the financial burden on patients but also creates conditions to improve the effectiveness of treatment and the quality of health care for people.

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