Even today, many employers pay for their employees' medical insurance; and here, too the law leaves that same option: whether the employer pays, or the employee pays; it is by their consent. Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan told this a press conference Wednesday—and referring to the fact that comprehensive medical insurance is being introduced in Armenia in three phases, starting from 2026.

“I am sure that employers are much more interested in their employees being healthy, taking care of these concerns in a timely manner, as well as the incentives our employers provide. And the state is also making a certain reduction in their profit tax, which is an expense. Here I am confident that very good employers will respond, and in many cases will take on this burden,” said the minister of health.

And to the question of which illnesses will be included in this compulsory medical insurance package in Armenia, Avanesyan responded: “We have built algorithms in terms of diagnoses and conditions. Let me take the example of pneumonia: a person has symptoms, fever, etc. First, he turns to his family doctor and his polyclinic, or outpatient clinic. From there, having already assessed the diagnosis, condition, symptoms, the treatment will proceed either in the outpatient circle, according to our algorithms, or, if we have aggravation, if we have clear indications for hospitalization, then he will go to hospital medical care, which will also be covered by the [compulsory medical] insurance.

In hospital medical care, we have daily drug expenditure limits. For example, the daily medication needs of more than 50,000 drams—which we have estimated that it happens in very exceptional cases—will be covered by the [compulsory medical] insurance. Additional services that do not fall within these criteria will be covered by the person himself, or by private insurance.

I want our expectations to be very clear here. It is very important not to think that the [compulsory medical] insurance covers everything; no country has such systems."