Armenia’s universal health insurance coverage reaches nearly 1.8 million

(Horizon Media / YEREVAN) — Nearly 1.8 million people were covered by Armenia’s Universal Health Insurance system by the end of June 2026, exceeding the government’s initial projection for the year, according to the Universal Health Insurance Fund.

Presenting the fund’s performance during the first half of 2026, Acting Chief Executive Officer Samvel Kharazyan said the number of insured beneficiaries has grown by approximately 14 per cent since the system entered into force on January 1.

Authorities had initially expected around 1.6 million people to be enrolled during 2026. Kharazyan said the higher figure was driven largely by an increase in salaried workers and individual entrepreneurs earning at least 200,000 drams per month.

Of the nearly 1.8 million beneficiaries, 762,404 received at least one medical service through the system during the first six months of the year. A further 35,961 people received covered medications.

Kharazyan said the figures suggest that many citizens who previously postponed or went without treatment because of financial constraints are now receiving necessary medical care.

Between January and June, the fund reimbursed 102.4 billion drams in medical services and medicines. A significant portion of the expenditures went toward costly surgical procedures, as well as more routine but medically necessary operations.

According to Kharazyan, the services funded through the program have helped improve patients’ quality of life and, in some cases, contributed to longer life expectancy.

The Universal Health Insurance Fund is also required to conduct ongoing public awareness campaigns and publish quarterly reports, which are made available on its official website.

Armenia introduced the Universal Health Insurance system on January 1, 2026. Its first phase covers employees earning at least 200,000 drams per month, individual entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities, pensioners aged 65 and older, and children under the age of 18.