“I have diabetes/hypertension/asthma — can I buy health insurance in Vietnam?” A top question on expat forums. The answer depends on insurance type: public HI doesn’t exclude pre-existing conditions, but commercial insurance does — and how you disclose decides everything.
Public HI: no pre-existing exclusions
- Compulsory and household HI don’t exclude pre-existing conditions, don’t raise premiums for health status, and impose no waiting periods — enrol and you’re covered like anyone.
- That’s why people with underlying conditions should prioritise Vietnamese HI as the safety net, even with international cover.
Commercial/international insurance: 3 pre-existing mechanisms
- 1. Exclusion: pre-existing conditions and their complications are carved out — most common with serious chronic illness.
- 2. Waiting period: pre-existing cover starts after 12–24 months (by carrier and condition) — self-pay meanwhile.
- 3. Loading: the carrier insures you but adds 25–100% premium for higher risk.
Duty of disclosure: don’t hide conditions
- Buying commercial insurance, you must disclose health status truthfully. Hiding pre-existing conditions lets the carrier deny claims or void the policy on discovery — even for unrelated visits (per terms).
- Disclose fully, keep a signed copy of the health declaration — your evidence in any later dispute.
4-step strategy with underlying conditions
- 1. Vietnamese HI first: the no-exclusion safety net.
- 2. Bring medical records: an English summary from your home doctor — Vietnamese doctors need it to continue treatment.
- 3. 3-month medication buffer: bring 3 months’ supply + prescriptions; source equivalents in Vietnam immediately (hospital pharmacies).
- 4. Read pre-existing terms of international plans before signing — compare 2–3 carriers, ask waiting periods per specific condition.
FAQs
Pre-existing condition discovered AFTER purchase?
Carriers may investigate medical history on large claims — proving the condition predated purchase without disclosure lets them deny. Honest disclosure upfront is the only safe path.
Switching carriers — do pre-existing conditions “carry over”?
Not automatically — the new carrier underwrites afresh. Never cancel the old policy before the new one is effective with written pre-existing confirmation.
Is pregnancy a “pre-existing condition”?
No — maternity is a separate clause with its own waiting period (usually 12 months); see the maternity article in this series.
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.
