Health insurance abuse a common malaise
Vietnam Social Security (VSS) recorded some 13,100 patients undergoing check-ups more than 50 times, with the total cost of VND645 billion (US$28.3 million) paid by its health insurance fund, in the first 10 months of 2017.
Duong Duc Tuan, Director of the Northern Centre for Health Insurance and Multidisciplinary Payment, said health insurance abuse by undergoing several check-ups at different hospitals was getting popular, increasing medical service costs and create negative consequences for the health insurance fund.
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People use health insurance in medical check-up and treatment |
“Some people consider undergoing check-ups paid by the health insurance fund their “job.” We are conducting investigations into these cases,” Tuan said.
In September, a patient in Ho Chi Minh City had to pay back VND9 million (US$400) to HCM City Social Security for abusing the health insurance fund.