Armenia will implement a mandatory health insurance system starting in 2026, Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan confirmed in a recent interview with Factor TV. The long-delayed reform is expected to overhaul the country’s healthcare financing model and ensure universal coverage by 2027.
The initiative, which has been in development for several years, envisions the creation of a unified insurance system that will cover all citizens. According to the draft law circulated in 2023, residents will pay an annual insurance premium of approximately $420. Vulnerable groups—including children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities—will have their contributions fully subsidized by the state.
The legislation is currently under government review and, once adopted, will pave the way for a phased rollout of the insurance scheme. As envisioned, the system will offer a standard benefits package for all, with differences in coverage determined only by age and gender. To access benefits, participants must undergo regular preventive medical checkups.
“This reform is designed to provide every citizen with access to essential health services, regardless of income or employment status,” Avanesyan said, emphasizing the program’s focus on equity and preventative care.
The concept of mandatory health insurance was first introduced in 2019 by then-Health Minister Arsen Torosyan. His proposal, which relied on a 6% payroll tax, drew sharp criticism from then-Finance Minister Atom Janjughazyan, who argued that it would disproportionately burden salaried workers and conflict with broader efforts to reduce the tax load.
The initial implementation date of 2022 was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. In early 2023, Avanesyan renewed the pledge, outlining a phased approach that would begin that year, extend coverage to pensioners in 2025, and achieve full implementation by 2027. However, delays in legislative approval and insufficient budget allocations stalled progress.
The turning point came in 2023, when the government formally endorsed the Concept for the Introduction of Comprehensive Health Insurance. The roadmap includes three key phases: preparatory work in 2023, pilot programs between 2024 and 2026, and the introduction of mandatory coverage in 2027.
The reform is seen as a critical step toward addressing chronic underfunding in Armenia’s healthcare sector. Official figures show that public health spending accounts for just 1.4% of the country’s GDP—among the lowest in the region. By contrast, neighboring and peer countries invest between 5% and 6% of GDP in public health.
