BHXH vs. BHYT for Expats: Disentangling Social Security Pensions from Public Health Insurance in Vietnam

During payroll reviews with foreign executives and FDI business managers, one common question surfaces repeatedly: "Does my lump-sum refund include the health insurance money deducted from my salary each month?"

The short answer is No, but understanding the precise separation between Vietnam Social Insurance (BHXH) and Public Health Insurance (BHYT) is critical to avoiding unrealistic expectations and optimizing your total exit recovery.

1. The Two Distinct Statuary Pillars on Your Monthly Payslip

Under Decree No. 143/2018/ND-CP and the Health Insurance Law, the compulsory payroll deductions for foreign employees working under Vietnamese labor contracts comprise two separate funds:

• Bảo hiểm Xã hội (BHXH - Social Insurance): Funded by 8% employee contribution and 17.5% employer contribution (effective total 25.5%). This fund covers Retirement, Survivorship, Sickness, and Maternity. The retirement and survivorship portion accumulates as individual statutory equity and is 100% refundable as a one-time lump-sum payment when you finish your contract and leave Vietnam.
• Bảo hiểm Y tế (BHYT - Health Insurance): Funded by 1.5% employee contribution and 3% employer contribution (total 4.5%). This is a pure risk-pooling public healthcare fund designed for immediate medical consultations, outpatient treatments, and hospitalization at Vietnamese medical centers during your employment term.

2. Can You Claim a Refund for BHYT When Leaving?

Because Health Insurance operates strictly under an annual solidarity and risk-sharing mechanism, premiums paid into BHYT cannot be reimbursed or liquidated upon relocation. Once your labor contract concludes, your digital or physical BHYT card terminates automatically.

In contrast, your BHXH account maintains full historical ledgers on the Vietnam Social Security database. Whether you exit immediately or leave the country for months, your retirement contributions remain untouched until claimed.

3. Best Practice: Utilizing Both Systems Effectively

While residing in Vietnam, do not overlook your BHYT coverage for routine local health checks, emergency triage, or high-tier public hospital treatments (such as Cho Ray, FV partnered public units, or Bach Mai). When preparing your exit strategy, direct 100% of your administrative focus to reclaiming your accumulated lump-sum BHXH entitlement.

DichVuBHXH.vn calculates your exact statutory pension balance based strictly on your verified BHXH contribution records. Contact our team to request a confidential payslip audit before your departure.