The Ministry of Health has proposed extending the health‑insurance subsidy that covers at least 70 % of premiums for 1.3 million ethnic‑minority residents, starting on 1 November 2026. The move aims to avoid a sudden loss of coverage for a large vulnerable group.

The current support policy, created under Decree 75/2023, ends on 31 October 2026. The Ministry of Health warned that without a transition, about 1.3 million people could lose government assistance with their health‑insurance premiums. This would leave many without affordable insurance.

In the 17 provinces and cities that give no extra support, residents would have to pay the full premium, which is about 3.3 times their current contribution. This sudden rise would be difficult for many families.

Most of the beneficiaries belong to low‑income households, so the ministry said losing the subsidy creates a significant risk that they will discontinue their health‑insurance coverage. Without insurance, access to regular medical examinations and treatment could be disrupted. The impact would be especially serious for patients with chronic illnesses who need long‑term care.

The Ministry of Health cited Ministry of Finance estimates that maintaining the 70 % subsidy for the final two months of 2026 would require around $7.9 million, and the average annual cost for 2027‑2030 would be about $47.5 million. These figures show the financial scale of keeping the support in place.