A health insurance law passed in early 2012 told the State to pay 30percent of health insurance card costs for farmers, fishermen and saltworkers within a certain income range, but its implementation has beenslowed down because of some difficulties in related procedures.

Only30 percent of farmers, fishermen and salt workers have bought healthinsurance, said Tong Thi Song Huong, director of the Ministry ofHealth's Department of Health Insurance. The law aimed to give them moreincentive to buy the insurance, which many are unable to afford.

TheState assigned the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs toset up income guidelines for the farmers, fishermen and salt workers whowould receive the funds. The ministry announced in May that householdsof farmers, fishermen and salt workers with an average income of 521,000VND to 900,000 VND (24 to 40 USD) per person per month in rural areasand 651,000 VND to 900,000 VND (30 to 40 USD) per person per month inurban areas would receive the discount.

Huong said the ministry would implement the law by the start of 2015.

TranVan Dung, Director of the Nam Dinh Social Insurance, said the Statehad, in the past, given people living near the poverty line 70 percentof the amount needed to buy health insurance, but only 15 percent ofpeople chose to buy them.

So, the workers would not buy cards with the State only covering 30 percent, he said.

"Thefarmers have low incomes, and although they are supported, they stillcannot afford to buy health insurance," said Tran Van Phong, DeputyDirector of Hung Yen Social Insurance.

Health insurance cardswould cost 3 to 4 million VND (140 to 190 USD) for five to six people,which was still a substantial amount, he said.

Phan Van Anh, asocial worker in the central province of Ha Tinh, suggested the Statefund a larger portion of insurance costs for low-income families.-VNA