Part of payments to be returned to Armenian citizens charged double  for health insurance

ArmInfo.  Armenian citizens working part-time are being charged double for health insurance. This was stated by Tadevos Avetisyan, a member of the RA National  Assembly, at a meeting of the Economic Affairs Committee on February  4.

According to him, he has been trying to find a solution with  officials from the RA Ministry of Health for a month now, but the  problem remains unresolved. As a result, thousands of his fellow  citizens are suffering due to the current uncertainty. The member of  parliament noted that while a solution exists in words, nothing is  happening in practice, which is dangerous for citizens' trust in the  mandatory health insurance system introduced on January 1, 2026.

In this regard, Hamlet Sahakyan, Deputy Chairman of the RA State  Revenue Committee, noted that a draft law is being developed that  would implement a refund system. "As far as I know, appropriate  decisions will be made in the near future to address the problem that  has arisen. This concerns the system used for funded social  benefits," the State Revenue Committee deputy chairman noted.

As a reminder, mandatory health insurance is expected to be  implemented over a three-year period. The first stage began on  January 1, 2026. The system covers children under 18, individuals  aged 65 and older (even if employed), individuals with disabilities  aged 18 to 65, and members of socially vulnerable families. For these  individuals, the state covers 100% of the costs. Citizens with a  monthly income of over 200,000 drams are also eligible for health  insurance; they will pay for their own insurance. Rates and subsidies  for universal health insurance in Armenia will be determined  annually. 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 Zinapa Military Insurance Fund. These  payments, increased in 2021, will now return to their previous level  of 1,000 drams, regardless of salary. The second portion will be  reimbursed to the beneficiary upon filing the annual personal income  tax return. However, this "preferential regime" is provided  exclusively to those who are both citizens of the Republic of Armenia  and residents of the country. Foreign citizens entitled to reside in  the Republic of Armenia (with residence status established by law)  will pay their compulsory medical insurance premiums themselves. The  burden of paying the insurance premium in full will also fall on  individual entrepreneurs registered in the Republic of Armenia and  notaries. Citizens and residents of the Republic of Armenia receiving  rent, interest, dividends, or royalties, individuals performing work  or providing services under civil contracts, and employees whose  salaries are calculated by persons other than tax agents will also  pay for the policy.

A state fund has been established to manage the 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.