BHYT Pays 6.7 Billion Dong for a Patient

In 2025, the nationwide number of BHYT examinations and treatments reached 195.5 million visits, up 11.9 million from 2024, or 6.5%. At the same time, the BHYT fund recorded total payments for treatment claims of about 161.628 trillion dong, up 20.188 trillion dong, or 14.3% from 2024.

Growth in visits and fund payments

The BHYT fund paid for many high-cost cases, with treatment payouts ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of dong. Covered services included cardiac surgery, organ transplants, cancer treatment, and dialysis. BHXH Vietnam said these payments helped significantly reduce patients’ financial burdens and limit the risk of impoverishment, including for complex pediatric cases where substantial treatment costs were covered.

Notable high-cost cases

BHXH Vietnam reported a case in Chau Thoi commune, Ca Mau province, where the BHYT fund paid nearly 6.7 billion dong for a hereditary factor VIII deficiency—the highest nationwide in 2025.

In Ho Chi Minh City, BHYT spending rose sharply. In 2025, total expenditure reached 32.326 trillion dong, up 12% from the prior year, with many treatments involving very large payouts, including some above 3.5 billion. Examples cited by insurance authorities include:

• A 25-year-old patient treated for hemophilia at Cho Ray Hospital: 3.57 billion dong.
• A septicemia case at Military Hospital 175: 2.11 billion dong.
• A child receiving a liver transplant: 1.75 billion dong.

Coverage scale and outlook for 2026

Ho Chi Minh City currently has more than 12.8 million BHYT participants, reaching nearly 97% of the target. Insurance authorities forecast that in 2026, the number of BHYT visits will continue to rise, potentially increasing BHYT costs by 15–18%.

Expanding benefits and balancing costs

BHXH Vietnam said BHYT policies in recent years have continued to be improved to expand benefits, broaden coverage, and improve service quality. The scope of BHYT benefits is also expanding, with many high-cost techniques and new medicines added to the list.

Since early 2025, people with 62 rare or serious diseases or needing high-tech interventions can receive treatment at specialized facilities without a referral letter, while payments remain in accordance with regulations.

However, BHXH Vietnam noted that with rising medical costs and growing demand for services, expanding benefits must be balanced with the efficient use of funds. The agency said it will continue to study adding medicines and technical services, emphasizing that expansion should align with overall resource availability to ensure stable, long-term payouts.