Armenia`s Cabinet approves procedure for collecting, storing, and  transmitting data in Universal Health Insurance Registry

ArmInfo.  On January 8, the Armenian government approved the procedure for collecting, storing, and transmitting data in the Universal Health Insurance Registry. As  stated in the explanatory note to the document, the Law "On Universal  Health Insurance" provides for the creation of a Universal Health  Insurance Registry (an electronic database containing personal and  non- personal data necessary for the proper implementation of  universal health insurance).

It is noted that the decision is being made urgently, since the Law  on Universal Health Insurance has already entered into force, and the  Registry is an electronic database containing personal and  non-personal data necessary for the proper implementation of  universal health insurance for recipients and is a necessary tool for  this process.

The draft regulates relations related to the collection, storage, and  transfer of the necessary data stipulated by the Law in the Registry.  In particular, the draft stipulates that the Registry, as a separate  database, will function within the electronic healthcare system,  which can also be accessed through a mobile application.  On this  basis, the insured person, upon logging into the electronic  healthcare system, will be able to view their insured status. The  Registry is compatible with electronic systems used by government  agencies. and local government for the provision of electronic  services or the implementation of transactions, and the relevant data  will be obtained through the interaction platform of the Government  of the Republic of Armenia from various databases serving as a data  source.

The registry will be maintained by the Universal Health Insurance  Fund. Furthermore, personal data contained in the registry and  confidential information related to universal health insurance will  be processed by the Fund, which will have the right to access such  data electronically if necessary for the proper exercise of its  powers under the law regarding universal health insurance.

As a reminder, compulsory health insurance envisages a phased  implementation of the system over three years. The first phase began  on January 1, 2026. The system covers children under 18, individuals  aged 65 and older (even if employed), persons 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 remaining  portion will be reimbursed to the beneficiary upon filing their  annual personal income tax return. However, this "preferential  treatment" is only available 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  a residence status established by law) will pay their compulsory  medical insurance premiums themselves. The full burden of paying the  insurance premium will also fall on individual entrepreneurs  registered in the Republic of Armenia and notaries.  Citizens and  residents of the Republic of Armenia who receive rent, interest,  dividends, or royalties, individuals performing work or providing  services under civil contracts, and employees whose salaries are  calculated by persons who are not 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 competition 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.