By Siranush Adamyan
Armenia’s mandatory health insurance system, launched on January 1, 2026, has covered around 1.7 million people — more than half of the country’s roughly 3 million population — in its first 100 days, with total spending reaching about $105 mn, Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan told CivilNet.
The reform marks one of Armenia’s most far-reaching social policy changes since independence. It is designed to expand access to healthcare, pool risks at the national level, and shift financing away from out-of-pocket payments toward mandatory contributions.
In its first phase, the system covers more than one million people whose contributions are paid by the state, including children under 18, citizens over 65, and people with disabilities. Salaried workers are required to contribute from their income.
According to the minister, the rollout has been smooth, with the number of beneficiaries continuing to grow during the first quarter. “The number of our beneficiaries has already reached 1,700,000,” she said, adding that participation is also increasing among individual entrepreneurs, with about 5,000 already joining the system voluntarily.
Demand for services has risen sharply. As of March 31, some 614,000 citizens had already used insurance-covered services, while the total number of visits has reached into the millions. “This means that roughly one in three beneficiaries has already used the system to some extent,” Avanesyan said.
On the financial side, the government says the system is operating within projections. “The first quarter results show that our forecasts were correct, and we have stayed within the insurance fund’s budget framework,” she said, noting that spending totaled about 40 billion drams, or roughly $105 mn.
The structure of care has also shifted. In the first three months alone, 67,000 surgeries were carried out under the insurance system. “In these three months, 67,000 surgeries have already been performed within the framework of insurance, which is a very large number,” Avanesyan said. The reform is designed to reduce long-term hospitalizations and increase preventive care.
The reform has also changed how medical staff are paid. In around 60 public healthcare institutions, salaries for family doctors, therapists and pediatricians have increased by 20–40%, while some specialized doctors have seen their pay double or even triple. “In March, doctors already received their increased salaries — in fact, more than before,” the minister said.
The system has boosted regional healthcare as well. The government purchased about $13 mn worth of medical equipment late last year to upgrade facilities outside Yerevan. “Regional medical centers were also prepared and managed to absorb the large flow of patients,” Avanesyan said.
Despite concerns that such systems can lead to long waiting times, the minister said delays remain manageable. “Planned interventions are scheduled within one to two weeks, at most one month,” she said.
Looking ahead, the government plans to continue developing the system, particularly through digitalization and market reforms. A fully digital platform is expected to be introduced from January 1, 2027, eliminating duplicate payments and synchronizing tax and insurance data. “From January 1, 2027, we will already have fully digital solutions,” Avanesyan said.
According to the minister, the system’s longer-term impact will include earlier disease detection, lower mortality, and more data-driven policymaking.
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