The HCM City leaders visit elderly people at Thị Nghè Nursing Home.  — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vũ

HCM CITY — The HCM City People's Committee has issued a plan to implement specific policies to take care of the elderly, orphans and people in difficult circumstances.

The plan aims to promptly support disadvantaged people who have not yet enjoyed social policies, according to the government’s Decree No. 20/2021/ND-CP.

The city wants to narrow the gap in living standards between special beneficiaries of this support policy and other residents.

Relevant agencies and departments will call for social financial contributions and state budgets to support people in need.

Under this plan, elderly people aged 75 years or older in poor households or near-poor households according to the city's set of multidimensional poverty measurement criteria in Cần Giờ district, according to the provisions of the Residence Law, will be given free health insurance cards.

The support level is 1.25 times the city's standard social assistance rate per person monthly.

Elderly people aged 60 years or older living alone without a husband or wife with a certificate of single living according to the provisions of the Civil Status Law are eligible for free health insurance cards.

People with serious illnesses, those whose capability to perform his/her usual job face a 31 per cent restriction due to work-related accident, injury or other accident, but are not yet entitled to social insurance benefits or monthly social benefits, will be issued a free health insurance card.

Orphaned children will also be given free health insurance cards.

The city also gives tuition support for preschool children, public high school students, and continuing education which is equal to the tuition fee set by the municipal People's Council.

The tuition support level for children studying at private or public educational establishments is equal to the tuition rate of public schools.

The monthly support level is 2.5 times the city's social assistance standard for a child under four years old, and 1.5 times the social assistance standard for a child aged four years or older.

Children whose parents are either serving a prison sentence or are serving a decision to apply administrative measures at compulsory education facilities or compulsory drug detoxification establishments are granted free health insurance cards (except for children under six years old).

Children whose father or mother is receiving social benefits according to government Decree No. 20/2021/ND-CP can get a free health insurance card (except for children under six years old).

The city also has a policy to support the issuance of health insurance cards to disadvantaged groups. — VNS