People come to have their health insurance procedures handled at the Vietnam Social Security's branch of Tứ Kỳ district, Hải Dương province. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI – Health insurance policies for people with disabilities were discussed at a workshop in Hà Nội late last week to attract attention to the necessity for health insurance to also cover payments for assistive tools and devices for the disabled.
The event, co-held by the Health Strategy and Policy Institute, the Medical Services Administration and the International Centre, shared international experience in terms of costs and benefits of providing assistive tools and devices to people with disabilities.
Healthcare and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities have been improved across the country, said Assoc. Prof., Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the Medical Services Administration.
Over 3 million out of the 6.2 million people with disabilities throughout the country have enjoyed free health insurance, he added.
Meanwhile, the remainder had to purchase health insurance and co-pay fees for medical services at their own cost, the official said, noting that assistive tools and devices aiding mobility, which are vital to the disabled, are not covered by the health insurance.
Many people with disabilities are living in poor conditions and have limited access to healthcare services. Families with a person with disabilities accounted for 55 per cent of the lowest-income population. Calculations on the basis of the 2016 multi-dimensional poverty approach show that households with disabled members are over two times more likely to be living in poverty than those with none. 
According to the national survey on people with disabilities in 2016, about 92 per cent of the people with disabilities were sick, injured or used medical services within a year before the time of the survey, nearly 20 per cent higher than those without.
Some 15 per cent of disabled people struggle to walk without assistive devices. With an assistive device, the figure will drop to only 1.94 per cent. Therefore, if these tools are covered by health insurance, it would make a big change in their life and help them more active in social activities. – VNS