Universal Health Cover Expands Access to Care for Millions

Armenia will introduce universal health insurance from 2026, aiming to ensure affordable medical care for all citizens and reduce financial barriers to treatment.

“This reform is designed to ensure equal access to healthcare and reduce the number of people who avoid treatment due to cost,” government officials said as the programme was approved.

The system will be rolled out over three years, with a standard package costing about ֏129,600 ($340) annually and covering screenings, treatments and medicines. Around 1.6 million people will be included in the first phase, with full coverage funded for vulnerable groups such as children, older adults and families in need, and authorities expect the share of people skipping care for financial reasons to fall by about 30%.