From the Social Package to Universal Health Insurance: What Will Change in 2027?

Starting January 1, 2027, funding for the social package program will be discontinued, while new population groups will join the Universal Health Insurance system. The changes were discussed during a press conference at the Armenpress studio by Hayk Babayan, Acting Director General of the Universal Health Insurance Fund; Lusine Harutyunyan, Acting Head of the Labor Rights Policy Department of the Ministry of Labor and Welfare; and Susanna Azatyan, Head of the General Education and Extracurricular Program Development and Implementation Division of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.

The social package program was introduced in 2012-2013 to address a number of educational, social and healthcare issues. Over the years, various systemic solutions were applied to individual components of the program. Starting January 1, 2027, funding for the social package as a budgetary program will be discontinued.

Referring to public sector employees, Babayan noted that the monthly AMD 6,000 provided under the social package will be discontinued, while insurance reimbursements for some public sector employees will be covered by the state budget in accordance with the procedure established by law.

Starting January 1, 2027, new beneficiary groups will join the Universal Health Insurance system, including employees earning up to AMD 200,000, whose number is around 340,000-350,000. For this group, it is envisaged that of the monthly insurance premium of AMD 10,800, AMD 2,000 will be deducted from the employee’s salary, AMD 4,400 will be paid by the employer from its own funds, and the remaining AMD 4,400 will be covered by the 2027 state budget.

Starting in 2027, individuals performing work or providing services under civil law contracts will also be insured.

A new option is also envisaged for insuring family members. Insured citizens will be able, at their discretion, to insure a family member who is a resident of the Republic of Armenia and does not belong to any of the social groups insured by the state.

Babayan noted that the monthly insurance premium of AMD 10,800 has demonstrated its viability during the first stage of the system’s operation. The Fund’s reimbursement ratio currently stands at around 93-95 percent, which, according to Babayan, indicates the system’s financial viability and stability. He emphasized that the groups that joined the system in 2026 included beneficiaries with greater healthcare needs and, consequently, a higher expenditure burden. The groups joining in 2027 are not expected to have the same level of expenditure burden. Taking these circumstances into account, the insurance premium will remain unchanged next year.

Babayan also spoke about the importance of preventive medical examinations within the system and the planned changes. Starting in 2029, when the reform is fully implemented, full access to insurance coverage is expected to be linked to citizens undergoing preventive medical examinations at specified intervals. A corresponding schedule will be developed under which citizens will undergo the necessary initial and preventive examinations.