Armenia Introduces Compulsory Medical Insurance

In this iPMI Global Country Guides Insights article, iPMI report author Ian Youngman, takes a look at the news that Armenia is introducing compulsory medical insurance.

• Comprehensive health insurance system is being introduced step by step in Armenia.
• So far, residents are joining on a voluntary basis.
• The insurance will become compulsory for the entire population in 2027.
• There is a Health Insurance Fund, partly financed by compulsory social health insurance, the Health Insurance Institute.
• The Health Insurance Fund is responsible for all public funding of healthcare.
• The aim is to make health services and medical aid accessible to all.
• The programme does not cover all medical procedures.

The package of medical services includes:

• Preventative examinations.
• Advanced diagnostic services.
• Treatment of diseases.
• Continuous monitoring in chronic cases, including the provision of medicines and professional counselling.
• Expensive cardiac surgery services.
• Treatment of oncological diseases, both medication and radiation therapy.
• The package excludes dental care.
• The package excludes organ transplants.

Most will pay but the government will pay for 1.3 million vulnerable groups in 2024:

• People with disabilities.
• Children under 18.
• People in the social assistance system.

From 2025 another state paid group will be added:

• People aged 63 and over.

From 2025 another paying group will be added:

• Employees of budgetary organisations

From 2026 other paying groups will be added:

• All hired workers.
• Self-employed.
• Farm workers.
• The state will partly pay for farm workers and people with a monthly income less than four times the minimum wage.
• Voluntary health insurance will be added in 2026.
• Comprehensive health insurance will be fully implemented from 2027.

What Next?

• Insurers may be able to offer the top up covers.
• As yet expats are not included anywhere.

About the Author

Ian Youngman is an independent writer and researcher specialising in insurance. He writes regularly for a variety of magazines, newsletters, and on-line services. He publishes a range of market reports, and undertakes research for companies. To read his latest report, International Health Insurance 2023, please click here, or visit the REPORTS section of iPMI Global.