Health Insurance Coverage for Patients with Critical Illnesses in Vietnam Compared to Canada and Proposed Recommendations

Nguyen Thi Bao Anh (Assoc.Professor. Lawyer. College of Law and Economics – Nam Can Tho University, No.168 – Nguyen Can Cu Street An Binh Ward, Can Tho City, Vietnam)
Nguyen Thi Chuc Linh (Msc.People's Court of Chau Thanh A District, Hau Giang Province, Vietnam)
Vo Hoang Cung (Msc. College of Law and Economics – Nam Can Tho University, No.168 – Nguyen Can Cu Street An Binh Ward, Can Tho City, Vietnam)

Jurnal Cita Hukum
Vol. 14 No. 2 (2026): Summer Edition

Individuals with critical illnesses require lifelong medication and medical care, often being unable to care for themselves. These individuals with critical illnesses do not qualify for social welfare support or monthly social allowances. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement health insurance regulations to benefit those with critical illnesses. This includes defining who qualifies as a person with a critical illness and identifying them as a group entitled to unique insurance benefits. On the other hand, Canadian Healthcare is primarily based on medical need, as determined by a medical professional, rather than the ability to pay. However, even though the Canadian health insurance system, established under the Canada Health Insurance Act, emphasizes providing medically necessary healthcare over ability to pay, it is not comprehensive insurance. This fact has been underscored in two landmark rulings, “Auton (Guardian ad litem of) v. British Columbia (Attorney General)” and “Wynberg v. Ontario”.