Stent Placement and Cancer Treatment at FV Hospital More Affordable with Social Health Insurance

“The total treatment cost was about VND 161 million, of which more than VND 42 million was covered by social health insurance, private insurance contributed VND 88 million, and I only had to pay around VND 30 million out of pocket at FV. I was truly happy and surprised to be able to use both types of insurance at the same time,” shared Mr F.A.J.V.

Many Vietnamese and international patients are surprised to learn that social health insurance can cover tens of millions of dong for high-tech treatments at FV Hospital, which is internationally recognised and has received four consecutive JCI accreditations. In some cases, when combining social and private insurance, patients pay less than 20% of the total cost.

Coronary Stent Placement at FV Hospital: Up to 81% Covered by Social and Private Health Insurance

At the end of August 2025, Mr F.A.J.V., 48, from the Philippines, suffered a sudden heart attack and was rushed to FV Hospital for emergency care. Tests revealed a severe blockage in his coronary artery, and an urgent stent placement was performed to restore blood flow to the heart.

The procedure was performed in FV’s modern Cathlab by a team led by Ho Minh Tuan, MD, PhD, Head of the Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology Department. Following the intervention, the patient recovered quickly and returned to normal daily activities within a few days.

The team led by Ho Minh Tuan, MD, PhD, performs a coronary stent placement for the patient.

Having lived in Vietnam for over 12 years, Mr F.A.J.V. has trusted FV Hospital with his and his family’s healthcare. This time, he was surprised not only by his rapid recovery, but also that up to 81% of his treatment costs were covered through a combination of public and private insurance.

“The total treatment cost was about VND 161 million, of which more than VND 42 million was covered by social health insurance, private insurance contributed VND 88 million, and I only had to pay around VND 30 million. I was truly happy and surprised to be able to use both types of insurance at FV at the same time,” shared Mr F.A.J.V.

Follow-up results showed that Mr F.A.J.V.’s health remained stable after the coronary stent procedure.

Liver Cancer Treatment via Embolisation: Nearly 40% Covered by Social Health Insurance

The case of Mr T.A.V., 68, from Can Tho City, had severe cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis C. Thanks to continuous treatment at FV Hospital, his hepatitis C was well controlled and his cirrhosis improved significantly, decreasing from 28% to 8%.

In early August 2025, during a follow-up visit, imaging detected two new malignant liver tumours. Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE), a minimally invasive interventional procedure, was recommended and performed by Dr Huynh Huu Danh of FV’s Interventional Radiology Unit. The procedure involves advancing a microcatheter via the femoral artery into the blood vessels supplying the tumour, then injecting embolic agents mixed with chemotherapy directly into the tumour to block its blood supply and destroy cancer cells.

After the procedure, his condition stabilised, and the liver tumours were successfully treated. Another surprising and welcome outcome was that social health insurance covered nearly 40% of the treatment costs.

“I used to think that social health insurance could only be used at public hospitals, and that a referral letter was required to go to a higher-level hospital. But at FV, I was able to use social health insurance for high-tech procedures without any complicated paperwork. It’s very convenient and significantly reduces the financial burden for patients,” he shared.

Mr V. expresses his joy as his health recovered well following the TACE procedure.

Social Health Insurance Procedures at an International Hospital: Fast, Simple, and Transparent

Patients not only receive substantial coverage, they also value the convenience and speed of insurance processing at FV Hospital. “I received my social health insurance reimbursement in just one day,” shared Mr F.A.J.V.

Thanks to the digitalisation of many steps, social health insurance declaration, verification, and reimbursement at FV are completed quickly, allowing patients to focus on their treatment. Mr T.V. also commented, “FV operates very systematically, with clear procedures and effective treatment. With the added support of social health insurance, more people will be able to access international-standard healthcare services more easily.”

The process for using social health insurance at FV Hospital is quick and straightforward.

From 1 July 2025, FV Hospital officially expanded the application of social health insurance (BHYT) for all patients seeking outpatient consultation, diagnosis, treatment, and emergency care. The hospital also continues to apply insurance coverage for patients using cancer treatment services (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) and for inpatient care for procedures, including cardiac and neurovascular interventions, joint replacement surgery (knee, hip, shoulder), phacoemulsification, and retinal detachment treatment.

When FV is registered as the primary healthcare provider under social health insurance, or when patients receive treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department or outpatient services at FV, 100% of insurance benefits within the coverage limits are applied with no referral letter required.

After just two months of implementation, FV’s Insurance Services Department recorded:

• 7,300 social health insurance declarations
• 2,700 social health insurance reimbursements
• Total payments exceeding VND 4.2 billion

Notably, high-tech treatments covered by social health insurance at 30–60%, and some cancer cases received coverage of over VND 1 billion.

For more details about social health insurance policies, or to register FV as your primary healthcare provider under social health insurance, please contact us directly via the hotline: (028) 35 11 3333, or visit 06 Nguyen Luong Bang, Tan My Ward (formerly District 7), Ho Chi Minh City.