Up to 91.58 per cent of the national population are expected to join health insurance in 2021, according to the Vietnam Social Security (VSS). VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Up to 91.58 per cent of the national population is expected to join health insurance plans this year, according to the Vietnam Social Security (VSS). 

The sector also aims to raise the rates of labourers participating in social insurance from 32.7 per cent to 35.2 per cent, and unemployment insurance from 27 per cent to 28.5 per cent. 

To reach those goals, administrative reform and information-technology application will continue, as well as artificial intelligence to better serve people and businesses. 

It will also revamp the communications work to raise public awareness of social insurance, while intensifying inspections over social and health insurance payment of enterprises. 

At a meeting of the Việt Nam National Committee on Ageing (VNCA) on January 15, VSS Deputy General Director Trần Đình Liệu said Việt Nam aimed to provide social insurance coverage for all elderly people nationwide by 2021.

According to a report of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Việt Nam had nearly 13 million elderly people (aged 60 and above) in 2020, accounting for 12 per cent of the population, with about 1.98 million aged over 80, and approximately 7.7 million elderly people living in rural areas.

The State budget spent about VNĐ18 trillion (US$779.69 million) implementing social assistance policies for the elderly in the community. More than 1.8 million elderly people received monthly allowances, over 1.4 million enjoyed allowances as national contributors, and 3.1 million are enjoying pensions and social insurance benefits. In addition, 12.1 million senior citizens currently have health insurance cards.

The VNCA said it appreciated efforts made by the Vietnam Association of the Elderly (VAE) and its local chapters in creating conditions for the elderly to participate in cultural, musical and sports activities, while urging for more active support from all-level Party committees and authorities in the work.

At the meeting, VNCA members agreed that in the future ministries, sectors and localities should focus on implementing policies related to the elderly in close association with multidimensional poverty elimination policies. — VNS