A healthcare financial report for Southeast Asia indicates that residents in the region typically bear an average of 31% of their total medical costs out-of-pocket. In Vietnam, public health insurance (BHYT) coverage reaches approximately 95%, yet people still pay nearly 40% of their total healthcare expenses themselves. This figure exceeds the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendation of under 30%.

This situation arises because many BHYT participants still face a co-payment of up to 20% for examinations and treatment. Additionally, certain specialized drugs, advanced treatment techniques, and medical services remain outside the scope of BHYT reimbursement. This can significantly increase treatment costs for patients with critical illnesses or those requiring prolonged care.

Public health insurance helps patients reduce examination and treatment costs. Photo: Hai Nguyen

Politburo Resolution 72-NQ/TW on public health protection and improvement outlines various solutions to enhance the healthcare system and strengthen financial protection for citizens. As part of this, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and Vietnam Social Security are developing a multi-tiered healthcare financing model.

Under this model, BHYT will continue to serve as the foundation of the social security system, ensuring access to essential medical services. Supplementary insurance, on the other hand, can help cover costs beyond BHYT's scope, thereby reducing the financial pressure on patients when they need high-cost drugs, techniques, or services.

People increasingly demand access to high-quality medical services. Photo: Hai Nguyen

This multi-tiered approach is widely adopted in many countries. In developed nations such as France, Singapore, and the Netherlands, supplementary health insurance models coexist with public insurance systems. This solution acts as a "complement", covering expenses not reimbursed by state insurance, thereby maximizing opportunities for citizens to access optimal medical services.

In this context, Techcom Insurance, a non-life insurance company and part of the Techcombank ecosystem, announced it is developing a medical cost compensation insurance solution. According to the company, the product received approval from the Ministry of Finance in 5/2026 and is expected to launch in July.

Medical cost compensation insurance - a solution designed to help people reduce medical expenses. Photo: Techcom Insurance

The company explained that the solution is designed to complement public health insurance, focusing on covering the out-of-pocket expenses patients still incur after BHYT reimbursement. The product targets middle-income customers, aiming to broaden insurance accessibility for more people.

Techcom Insurance highlighted that the product incorporates technology and artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations to enhance customer experience and simplify insurance-related procedures. The company states that developing this medical cost compensation insurance solution is part of its commitment to supporting the national initiative to improve healthcare quality and reduce the financial burden of medical examinations and treatments for citizens.

In the long term, the combination of public health insurance and supplementary insurance solutions is expected to complete a multi-tiered financial protection system. This will help citizens reduce healthcare cost burdens while providing more opportunities to access high-quality healthcare services.

Minh Ngoc