A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed steps planned for 2027 under the strategy for introducing Universal Health Insurance.
In particular, officials presented the strategy’s features for 2027 and options for including people earning monthly salaries of up to 200,000 drams in the system.
Pashinyan explained that a specific approach is being developed for this group, taking into account potential risks related to the shadow economy.
The prime minister outlined the government’s current approach to including citizens earning up to 200,000 drams per month in the system from Jan. 1, 2027:
“During 2027, the government might subsidize 4,400 drams of the required 10,800-dram cost, employees would pay 2,000 drams — the same 2,000 drams they previously paid to the Zinapah Foundation until Jan. 1, 2026 — and employers would pay the remaining 4,400 drams. Naturally, this would be on the condition that if the salary changes, increases and exceeds the 200,000-dram threshold, citizens earning that amount would then be included in the system already operating for citizens earning salaries of 200,000 drams or more. This is our current line of thinking, but what comes next is also important.
“We envision the next stage as follows: perhaps from Jan. 1, 2028, we will introduce a scenario under which the employee pays 6,000 drams of the 10,800-dram cost, which they would then receive back in 2028 as a social credit if they file the universal income declaration. In other words, in practical terms, very little changes in the citizen’s life, while the employer would continue paying the remaining 4,800 drams, again as long as the salary remains below 200,000 drams. Once it exceeds the 200,000-dram threshold, the system would begin operating under the general terms to be determined at that time,” he said.
According to the prime minister, it would be preferable for employers to use this opportunity to reconsider their decisions and pay as many employees as possible salaries of 200,000 drams or more.
“Of course, there is a similar issue in the public administration system, and we will also have to consider how to address that problem within the public administration system,” he said.
Summing up, Pashinyan said the goal is for all segments of the population to be included in the system by Jan. 1, 2029. At the same time, he stressed the importance of ensuring the quality of services provided and maintaining the financial health of the system.
The law on Universal Health Insurance took effect on Jan. 1, 2026. It is being introduced in stages. The first stage covers citizens whose monthly salaries exceed 200,000 drams. They are provided with an insurance package worth 129,600 drams, covering preventive, early detection and screening services, as well as hospital treatment, medication coverage and emergency medical services.
