Who Can Join BVCare (New)? Age, Health and Expat Eligibility Rules
Many companies and employees ask: who is eligible to join the BVCare (New) corporate health insurance plan, and what limits apply to accompanying family members? The answer depends on age, health status, the relationship to the employee and even the size of the insured group. This guide walks you through the key checkpoints before you submit your member list.
In this article
🧺 Who is insured under BVCare (New)?
There are two main groups. First, employees: people with a labor contract, probationary contract or other labor agreement with the policy buyer under Vietnamese labor law, who are currently working for the policy buyer and are named on the insured list for the entire policy term. Second, employees’ dependents, who are registered once at the start of the contract’s effective date.
Registering dependents after the start date only applies in certain cases: dependents of a new hire or a newly married spouse; a newborn child who meets the age and eligibility conditions; or dependents of an employee who has completed probation or received a mid-term promotion or upgrade under company policy. Dependent benefits also end automatically at the same time the employee’s benefits end.
One important rule: dependents can only join if the employee is also on the list, and only in a plan equal to or lower than the employee’s plan. If the employee does not participate, the coverage of all dependents becomes invalid, they are removed from the contract, and premiums will not be refunded, regardless of whether any claims have occurred. All premiums for the insured (including dependents) are paid by the policy buyer.
👨👩👧 Who counts as a dependent, and when can parents be added by group size?
Under the insurance rules, dependents include a spouse under 66 years old of the insured employee, and legitimate children aged 1 to 18, or up to 24 if they are enrolled in long-term courses in Vietnam and are unmarried. Maternity benefits do not apply to the employee’s children. All dependents must be named on the insured list.
Biological parents and parents-in-law can only be added depending on group size, as summarized below:
| Group size | Extension for biological parents and parents-in-law |
|---|---|
| 50 employees or fewer | No extension |
| 51 – 100 employees | Extended on customer request, with a 30% premium increase and 20/80 co-payment for inpatient and outpatient care |
| 101 – 200 employees | Extended on customer request, with a 30% premium increase |
The policy buyer is responsible for declaring the employee and dependent list in line with these rules, as any violation may lead the insurer to deny claims or cancel coverage for the specific cases involved.
📋 Age and health conditions for joining
The standard entry age is from 12 months to under 66 years old. It can be extended to children from 15 days to under 1 year, and to adults renewing at 66–70, depending on group size:
| Group size | Extension for ages 15 days – under 1 year and renewals at 66–70 |
|---|---|
| 50 employees or fewer | No extension |
| 51 – 100 employees | 50% premium increase and 20% co-payment |
| 101 employees or more | 30% premium increase with 20% co-payment, or 50% premium increase with no co-payment |
On health, first-year participants must meet these conditions: no mental illness or leprosy; no cancer; no permanent disability of 80% or more; and not currently receiving inpatient treatment for specially defined diseases. The last three conditions apply only to first-year participants.
Note: if a participant does not meet the eligible group or conditions, the insurer may terminate the coverage and is not responsible for the registered benefits.
🌏 Rules for foreigners
BVCare (New) accepts both Vietnamese citizens and foreigners legally residing in Vietnam, provided the participant does not leave Vietnam continuously for more than 180 days. This is a point companies with foreign staff must monitor closely, since long business trips can affect eligibility.
To learn more about health protection needs for foreign professionals and their families in Vietnam, see this guide to health insurance for expats, the BVCare corporate program overview, and the article on what BVCare (New) covers.
✅ Quick checklist before submitting your list
- ☐ Employees have a valid labor/probationary contract or labor agreement and currently work for the policy buyer
- ☐ Participants are aged 12 months to under 66 (or qualify for a group extension)
- ☐ First-year health conditions are met: no mental illness or leprosy; no cancer; no permanent disability of 80% or more; no current inpatient treatment for a specially defined disease
- ☐ Foreigners reside legally in Vietnam and do not leave Vietnam for more than 180 consecutive days
- ☐ Dependents are registered at the right time and are eligible (spouse under 66; children 1–18, or up to 24 if studying long-term in Vietnam and unmarried)
- ☐ The employee is listed before dependents are registered, and the dependent’s plan is equal to or lower than the employee’s
- ☐ Parents and parents-in-law are only declared if the group qualifies for the extension and accepts the higher premium and co-payment (if any)
The conditions above are summarized from the rules and contract of corporate health insurance for business customers; details may differ under each enterprise’s agreement. Check the contract terms or contact the insurer or advisor to confirm the list and specific conditions before signing, to reduce the risk of claim denial later.
