The Government has introduced a new legal framework governing administrative penalties within the healthcare sector. Starting May 15, violations concerning insurance contributions and the misuse of health insurance cards will be subject to specific and stringent financial sanctions.
Penalties for delayed contributions Employers failing to register eligible employees on time or underpaying insurance premiums (not amounting to criminal liability) will face fines calculated based on the workforce size and the monetary value of the violation.
-
By workforce size: Fines range from 1 million to 35 million VND, depending on the number of affected employees (from fewer than 10 to over 1,000 individuals).
-
By unpaid value: Fines range from 500,000 to 35 million VND, proportional to the total outstanding balance owed to the insurance fund.
Sanctions for insurance evasion Intentional evasion of health insurance responsibilities carries heavier penalties:
-
Mandatory individuals failing to participate: Fines between 300,000 and 500,000 VND.
-
Employers: The maximum penalty can reach 70 million VND for large-scale enterprises (over 1,000 employees) evading insurance obligations.
-
Under-reporting wages as a basis for contributions: Fines range from 1 million to 45 million VND, based on the discrepancy amount.
Misuse of health insurance cards Lending or borrowing health insurance cards for medical services is also strictly regulated:
-
Violations without financial loss to the fund: Fines between 1 million and 2 million VND.
-
Using another person’s card for illicit gain or causing financial damage to the fund: Fines between 3 million and 5 million VND.
Compulsory remedial measures In addition to administrative fines, violators must implement corrective actions, including: fully remitting outstanding debts to the health insurance fund, compensating employees for any losses, and paying an interest rate of 0.03% per day on the overdue or evaded amount.