Vietnam Social Security (VSS) will discontinue the use of paper health insurance cards starting June 1 as the country accelerates its digital transformation in public services.
Health insurance participants will instead use digital methods, including the VssID app, VNeID application, or a chip-based Citizen ID card, for medical examinations and treatment under the national health insurance scheme.
The move reflects the government’s push to reduce administrative burdens and promote a more efficient, tech-driven delivery of social protection.
According to VSS, the digital transition ensures improved convenience for health insurance participants while safeguarding all current rights and entitlements under the scheme. Policyholders’ access to medical services remains uninterrupted, but is now facilitated through streamlined, electronic verification methods.
The initiative forms part of a broader digitalization strategy within Vietnam’s social security system. Recently, VSS also digitized procedures for unemployment insurance, including applications for benefits, vocational training support, and workforce reintegration measures.
These efforts are designed to improve access to services and enhance the user experience across regional and district-level offices.
Vietnam’s push toward digital health and social insurance solutions comes amid the rapid evolution of its insurance sector.
The country’s insurance market has grown substantially over the past decade, bolstered by a rising middle class, higher disposable incomes, and increased awareness of financial protection. With more than 70 insurers now operating in Vietnam, the market has seen premium values climb significantly, particularly in health and life insurance segments.
As of 2023, approximately 93% of the Vietnamese population was covered under the social health insurance scheme. The government’s digital transformation is expected to further support universal healthcare goals, while enabling the private health insurance sector to expand its role in offering more flexible and personalized coverage options.
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