Is 'thread implantation' technical service covered by health insurance?

(Chinhphu.vn) - Mr. TL went to a Traditional Medicine Hospital for examination and treatment and was informed that the acupuncture treatment service for reflux is not covered by health insurance, and asked to pay 800,000 VND for this service (with a referral letter). Mr. TL asked, is this right or wrong?

Regarding this issue, Vietnam Social Security responded as follows :

The "thread implantation" technical service is covered by the health insurance fund. The "thread implantation" technical service is paid for under the health insurance regime at the Traditional Medicine Hospital at VND 156,400 and the price of the "thread implantation" technical service upon request type 1 is VND 800,000, type 2 is VND 500,000, so the Hospital's response that the "thread implantation" technical service is not covered by health insurance is not in accordance with regulations. Through discussion with Mr. TL using the phone number he provided and working with the Traditional Medicine Hospital, in 2025, Mr. TL went to the hospital for medical examination and treatment twice:

Outpatient examination on March 3, 2025 at the Hospital with the cost requested to be paid by the Social Insurance agency of 45,000 VND (patient does not have to pay together);

- Inpatient treatment from March 4-20, 2025 at the Hospital with the cost requested to be paid by the Social Insurance Agency is 6,765,813.63 VND and the patient must co-pay (20%) is 1,691,453.41 VND. During the treatment, the patient is prescribed and performs technical services, including: Electroacupuncture, Medicinal soak, Hydroacupuncture, Acupressure massage... (the "thread implant" technical service is not prescribed), at the same time, the patient does not have to pay the cost of the "thread implant" technical service during the treatment at the Hospital.

The Social Insurance Agency has discussed and requested the Traditional Medicine Hospital to ensure human resources, professional conditions, and facilities to provide quality health insurance technical services to health insurance patients in accordance with the hospital's professional scope and the level of benefits and rights of participants. In case the health insurance patient voluntarily uses the service upon request, it must explain and notify the health insurance patient about the costs that the patient must pay outside the scope so that the patient can choose and decide.

Government.vn

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/dich-vu-ky-thuat-cay-chi-co-duoc-bhyt-chi-tra-102250623101305289.htm