Not covered by compulsory HI — freelancers, dependants, short contracts — doesn’t mean facing medical risk “naked”. Foreigners residing in Vietnam can join voluntary household health insurance, at just over VND 100,000/month for the first member.
Condition: named in a lawfully residing household
- Under Article 5, Decree 146/2018/ND-CP, household-HI covers persons named in household registration books or temporary residence books (except the compulsorily insured).
- Foreigners with permanent or temporary residence registration in a household at a lawful dwelling → eligible for voluntary household HI. In practice: file at the district social insurance office of residence or authorised collection agents.
- File: declaration form (TK1-TS) + passport + lawful residence proof (TRC).
Household HI rates: the more, the cheaper
- 1st member: 4.5% of base salary = VND 105,300/month (base salary VND 2,340,000).
- 2nd: 70% of the first = 73,710/month.
- 3rd: 60% = 63,180/month.
- 4th: 50% = 52,650/month.
- 5th onward: 40% = 42,120/month.
Example: a 4-person family → total VND 294,840/month — less than one restaurant dinner for a month of family health cover. Annual payment earns statutory discounts.
Benefits: like ordinary HI members
Household HI cards work at public healthcare facilities nationwide with statutory payment rates (80% for self-paid groups). Since 1/7/2025 (Law 51/2024), any first-registration facility pays full rates; 62 listed critical illnesses go straight to specialised hospitals without referral papers.
FAQs
How soon usable after buying voluntary HI?
Cards activate 30 days after payment (waiting period) for first-time or rejoined-after-3-month-gap members — except under-6 children. Don’t wait until you’re sick.
Single foreigner, no family household?
You can still join as the household’s “1st member” — household here means your registered residence (even living alone with TRC registration). Contact your local social insurance office for guidance.
Voluntary HI at international hospitals (FV, Vinmec)?
Limited — most international/private hospitals don’t contract HI care or apply it partially. For insured international-hospital care you need private/international health insurance (see EXP-0471).
Contact us
FLAT Law Firm advises foreign nationals and their families on inheritance, wills, driving licences, health insurance and money transfers in Vietnam. Contact us for advice on your specific case.
