Armenian premier calls on citizens not to turn healthcare system into a `Black Friday`
ArmInfo. The compulsory health insurance (CHI) system, which will begin operating on January 1, 2026, will cover 1,600,000 people in its first phase. Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan announced this at a government meeting on December 25. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called on citizens "not to turn the healthcare system into a 'Black Friday' and not to attack medical centers starting January 1," as they "will not flee."
Anahit Avanesyan recalled that in the first phase, that is, in 2026, the system will include individuals under 18 and over 65, disabled individuals aged 18 to 65, and members of socially vulnerable families. The system will also include family members of deceased military personnel. The state will subsidize insurance premiums for all these categories of citizens. Insurance premiums for citizens with a monthly income of over 200,000 drams will be partially subsidized.
The base cost of an insurance policy in 2026 will be 129,600 drams (10,800 drams per month). Part of this amount will be reimbursed from payments to the Zinap Military Insurance Fund. These payments, increased in 2021, will now return to their previous level of 1,000 drams, regardless of salary. The remaining portion will be reimbursed to the beneficiary upon filing their annual personal income tax return.
However, this "preferential treatment" is provided exclusively to those who are both citizens of the Republic of Armenia and residents of the country. Foreign citizens who have the right to reside in the Republic of Armenia (with residence status established by law) will also be eligible. However, this category of citizens will pay their compulsory medical insurance premiums themselves. However, the burden of paying the insurance premium in full will also fall on the shoulders of individual entrepreneurs registered in the RA and notaries.
The system will automatically verify people and include beneficiaries. In this regard, the Minister of Health urged citizens to download the updated ArMed app, where, after identification, they will be able to find out whether they are eligible for the system as early as 2026 and whether they must pay insurance premiums themselves or whether the state will do so for them. A list of medical care and medications covered by the insurance will also be available.
Senior citizens who are not accustomed to using mobile devices will receive SMS notifications. Furthermore, local physicians will be tasked with explaining any questions that arise about the new system and the procedure for receiving medical care.
The insurance payment will be made by the tax agent (employer), meaning it will be withheld from wages in the same way as income tax, social security contributions, and other payments. Payments will begin with the December salary for January insurance. Social package recipients-public sector employees-will be required to submit an application to their employer for a partial redistribution of funds: 6,000 drams from their social package will be allocated to compulsory medical insurance.
A state fund will be created to manage the health insurance system. It will operate under temporary management for three months, after which a state selection committee will form its board of directors (which, as stated in the Concept for the Implementation of Compulsory Medical Insurance, will be chaired by the Minister of Health).