Around 15 million health insurance holders were yet to be granted new cards in accordance with new laws which took effect last October, a representative from Vietnam Social Insurance has said.

Many localities and social insurance agencies were yet to receive lists of insured people from their respective labor departments, he said, explaining the delay.

The Ministry of Health has ordered hospitals to count treatment costs for insured patients with the old cards which are still valid under the new laws, Thiet said.

Children under six who are yet to have their free treatment and examination cards changed into health insurance cards can use the former or their birth certificates to enjoy health insurance benefits, he added.

Under the new health insurance laws, all insured patients, except for children under six and those who’ve made contributions to the revolutionary cause, have to pay between five and 20 percent of the treatment costs.

The Ministry of Health expects the new law would deter people from overusing hospital services.

Reported by Lien Chau