What you need to know about VHI for foreign workers

Do foreigners need a VHI policy?

When discussing whether a temporary resident foreigner needs a VHI policy, it is recommended to refer to the legislative framework.
Several years ago, a law came into force obliging all foreigners legally present within the country to enter into an insurance contract for the purpose of providing services within medical institutions. In 2021, amendments were made to this law. Since January of this year, VHI has been issued as a compulsory medical insurance. It is recommended to purchase a coupon for medical insurance directly on the day of arrival. Otherwise, the presence of a foreigner within the Federation will be illegal.

Status does not play any role when applying for VHI. Purchasing an insurance policy is necessary regardless of the purpose and duration of stay. Purchasing voluntary health insurance is necessary both for a long-term stay (for example, for the purpose of employment) and for a one-day stay for tourism purposes.

Is it necessary for a foreign worker to take out a VHI policy?

The procedure for the entry and stay of foreigners in Russia is regulated by Federal Laws No. 114-FZ and No. 115-FZ and is mandatory for all categories of foreign citizens:

Quote from article No. 27, 114-FZ

“Entry into the Russian Federation by a foreign citizen or stateless person is not permitted if: clause 5) the foreign citizen or stateless person has not presented a health insurance policy valid on the territory of the Russian Federation.”

Federal Law of July 25, 2002 No. 115-FZ

“Foreign citizens arriving in the Russian Federation must have a medical insurance agreement (policy) valid on the territory of the Russian Federation.”

A voluntary health insurance (VHI) contract can be issued for a year, and then independently extended an unlimited number of times, while directly in the Russian Federation.

The need for mandatory availability of a voluntary health insurance policy is established by Federal Law No. 409 of December 1, 2014 “On the introduction into the Labor Code of the Russian Federation and Article 13 of the Federal Law “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation” of changes related to the peculiarities of regulating the labor of workers who are foreign citizens or stateless persons ":

Article 327.3

Documents presented by a foreign citizen or stateless person when applying for a job: “a contract (policy) of voluntary health insurance valid on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The voluntary health insurance contract (policy) must ensure the provision of primary health care and specialized medical care to such an employee in an emergency manner.”

What does a VHI policy look like?

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Polus VHI for foreign citizens is a guarantee of providing qualified assistance from specialists if the need arises. Insurance of this type is issued on A4 paper. The document contains information regarding:

1. Citizen identity.
2. Passport data.
3. Date of birth.
4. Category relative to risk group.
5. Duration of stay on the territory of the state, etc.

The policy contains a full description of the insurance program that applies in this case. You can find such data at the bottom of the sheet. When reading the document, it is recommended to carefully study all the information presented, including the fine print.

Registration of VHI medical insurance for employees from Ukraine

The minimum list of VHI services is established by the Russian Ministry of Health and provides for the provision of primary health care and specialized emergency medical care to workers. Quote from Federal Law No. 409 of December 1, 2014 “On introducing changes into the Labor Code of the Russian Federation and Article 13 of the Federal Law “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation” related to the specifics of regulating the labor of workers who are foreign citizens or stateless persons”:

Art. 327, part 3, Federal Law No. 409

Documents presented by a foreign citizen or stateless person when applying for a job: “... a contract (policy) of voluntary health insurance, valid on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The voluntary health insurance contract (policy) must ensure the provision of primary health care and specialized medical care to such an employee in an emergency manner.”

An employee from Ukraine has the right to independently determine the insurance program, choose the insured amount and the amount of medical care. services that will be provided to him upon the occurrence of an insured event.

The cheapest insurance program does not provide payment for dental care and treatment of sudden illnesses (ARVI, influenza, sore throat, gastrointestinal diseases, heart attacks, etc.). If you are planning a long-term stay in the Russian Federation (more than 15 days), it is recommended to choose tariff plans that cover the relevant risks.

What does VHI insurance give to a foreigner: advantages

Speaking about what a VHI policy provides for foreign citizens, it is important to note that having an insurance coupon has many advantages compared to other papers of this kind. Among the main advantages of VHI are:

1. Obtaining VHI gives a foreigner the legal right to stay on the territory of the state legally. Otherwise, even if you have another insurance card, your stay is considered illegal.
2. The presence of a VHI coupon is the basis for applying to any government-type medical institutions in order to receive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, a full list of which is indicated by the policy. All medical services are provided free of charge.
3. In addition to providing care in a hospital setting or outpatient consultation, the policy provides for free emergency assistance (for example, when calling an ambulance).
4. The ability to independently choose the amount of assistance provided by the policy. The more expensive the cost of VHI, the more points it includes. A full set of insurance is relevant for those who stay in the state for a long time without leaving. If a person is here for several days, a simple package with a minimum set of services will be enough.

Having a VHI insurance card allows you to save money. Persons who own the policy are not required to pay huge amounts of money for qualified medical care, as was the case before. If VHI is available, the necessary services are provided in the same way as for ordinary citizens.

Pay attention to some features of the pole's action. This type of insurance has limitations regarding the provision of free medications. Pharmacological drugs for the treatment of AIDS or HIV are not given free of charge even if you have a coupon

VHI policy for a work patent

Is registration required?

Among the information that is important for a foreign citizen to provide to the migration service, a certificate of health insurance is mandatory, so purchasing it cannot be avoided.
Even residents of Kazakhstan and Belarus, who in principle do not need to obtain a permit to carry out work activities in the Russian Federation, are required by law to have a policy. True, you won’t have to submit it to the FMS. There are a number of basic requirements that must be met when drawing up a health insurance contract. They are as follows:

1. The insurance amount of voluntary medical insurance for a patent is at least 100,000 rubles if emergency hospitalization is necessary and 30,000 rubles. when visiting the clinic.
2. The list of paid services must necessarily include not only emergency care associated with a danger to life, but also medical and sanitary support.
3. The minimum validity period is one year from the date of submission of documents to obtain a work permit.

Properly executed papers will allow you to cover medical services related to injuries, poisoning, inpatient treatment, tests and examinations that are required to establish a diagnosis. Dental participation and repatriation to your home country are not included in the standard package. They should be chosen as additional services.

How much does a VHI medical policy cost for a patent and work insurance?

The choice of a company for registration should be treated with special attention, since it depends on it how high-quality service will be provided to the victim and how quickly. To obtain a document from the Migrant Insurance Center, it is enough to have a certified translation of your passport, as well as a copy of registration in Russia.

Foreign citizens are not recommended to purchase the cheapest package option, since the likelihood that it will cover all prescribed examinations and treatment procedures is low. The price is determined based on several key points:

1. Insurance premium.
2. Client's age.
3. Features of the medical insurance program.
4. Availability of additional services.

The minimum cost per year per person is approximately 1,300 rubles, but for this amount only mandatory items will be specified in the contract. If there is a desire to expand the standard set, the price tag can increase to 4-6 thousand rubles.

If a situation occurs that threatens life and health, first of all, contact the ambulance at the phone number specified in the policy and tell us what the problem is. Doctors will examine you and, if necessary, hospitalize you. If a doctor’s visit is not urgent, contact a representative of the insurance company and describe the circumstances to him. After this, just follow the instructions given by the specialist.

Advantages of the services of the Health Insurance Center

Our professionals specialize in providing documents to foreign citizens and pay attention to those features of VHI that are required in most cases. This is already its first advantage, but there are a number of additional ones:

1. The price for purchasing medical insurance for a patent is the lowest among similar companies.
2. Any payment methods are available.
3. It only takes a few minutes to complete the paperwork.
4. You can visit the office at a convenient time and in comfortable conditions.
5. Medical insurance is issued not only to migrant workers, but also to pregnant women and children.
6. It is possible to deliver the purchased document to your home by courier.

Choose the optimal package of services for yourself, enter into an agreement, pay for the purchase and be sure that you will receive timely medical care.

Requirements for obtaining insurance

Regulatory legal acts specify a list of requirements that must be met to create a VHI insurance policy. These requirements include:

1. There is an age limit for receiving VHI. You can issue a coupon upon reaching the age of majority, starting from 18 years of age. The maximum age for receiving insurance papers is 75 years.
2. Minors also need to obtain VHI. Instead of children, documents are submitted by their representatives (parents, guardians or trustees).
3. The maximum length of stay on the territory of the state without voluntary health insurance (if there are valid reasons for this, confirmed by official documents) is 3 days. During this period, a citizen of another country undertakes to resolve all documentary issues regarding VHI.
4. If a VHI coupon is issued for long-term use, you must purchase a standard package of services. Liver services of this type are universal for both citizens of the Russian Federation and visitors. When applying for a coupon for a short period, you have the opportunity to choose; it is not necessary to purchase the entire package.
5. It is possible to issue an insurance card through a company that searches for work for such persons in our state. The validity period of the VHI in this case will correspond to the duration of work in this company.

Where can I apply?

The legislation provides for 2 types of filing papers, namely:

• collective;
• individual.

There are employers who help their foreign employees with paperwork to obtain insurance coupons. In such a situation, a person independently collects a package of necessary documents, and then passes it on to the company’s management. Collective registration of insurance coupons involves submitting several packages of papers at once in order to receive poles.

Individual registration of a pole for insurance involves the submission of documents personally by the policyholder. You can also order the production of a pole via the Internet. To complete this task, you can visit the insurance company’s Internet portal and provide the necessary information in the appropriate section.

Application and documents for registration

To obtain a health insurance card, foreigners must present a standard set of papers. The list of all documents for persons who have reached the age of majority includes:

1. Identity card (in the form of a passport of the state of which the person is a citizen). In situations where the information in the document is written in a foreign language, it is necessary to additionally provide a translation of the passport data, certified by a notary.
2. A hand-filled migration service card. Information is entered into the card at the moment a foreign citizen crosses the state border. If the card is lost, you can contact the migration service with a request to issue a duplicate.
3. Documented information regarding the citizen’s place of residence on the territory of the Russian Federation.
4. A receipt indicating the amount paid for issuing a VHI policy.

In addition to the specified documents, of course, it is necessary to provide an application. The document is written by hand indicating information regarding the voluntary desire to obtain a medical insurance policy. On behalf of the minor, the application is written by his legal representatives.

If a package of documents is submitted to obtain medical insurance for a minor, the following documents must be provided:

1. Birth certificate.
2. Information regarding the presence of chronic pathologies or other health problems. Data of this kind are indicated for the timely prevention or treatment of existing diseases.

VHI of highly qualified foreign specialists

If you are hiring a foreign highly qualified specialist (HQS), keep the following in mind.
Voluntary insurance must be taken out not only for him, but also for his family members who arrived with him in Russia (Clause 14, Article 13.2 of the Federal Law of July 25, 2002 No. 115-FZ). This is a prerequisite for concluding both an employment and civil law contract with a foreign specialist.

Source:

Source: WiseAdvice (accounting outsourcing)

Heading:

Pensions

Tags: foreign worker

• Rufina Khakimova, payroll project manager at WiseAdvice (accounting outsourcing)

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Step-by-step registration instructions

Many people are interested in the question of how to apply for a VHI policy for foreign citizens? The algorithm is very simple, often it does not cause any difficulties.

To obtain a medical insurance policy, you must follow the following procedure:

• find a suitable insurance company that will represent your interests;
• notify the company in writing of your desire to cooperate;
• submit a standard package of documents for information processing;
• select the type of insurance policy. It depends on the goals and duration of stay in the state, health status, as well as personal preferences of the client;
• pay for an insurance policy at a bank or cash desk.

You can pick up the document from the insurance company within the time agreed in advance. Often, paperwork of this kind occurs very quickly.

What insurance policy do highly qualified specialists from Ukraine need?

Russian migration legislation defines only general requirements for insurance coverage for HQS from Ukraine, so for an employer it may be sufficient for an applicant to have a voluntary health insurance policy with minimal coverage.

But, in the interests of a highly qualified employee, it is recommended to increase the minimum amount of insurance coverage .

For example, the minimum tariff plan does not provide dental coverage. assistance and treatment of sudden illnesses, therefore, for a long stay in the Russian Federation, it is recommended to choose an insurance plan that pays for such treatment.

If his relatives enter Russia together with a foreign worker, each of them must be insured under the voluntary health insurance program (see above).

Foreigners accompanying a highly qualified specialist can be included in the HQS policy or insured separately.

How much does the policy cost and what is the registration period?

Due to changes in current regulations in the field of insurance, it is very difficult to say the exact price of an insurance policy. Several factors influence the final cost of the document. The main criterion is the time spent within the state. The cost of an insurance policy for several days is significantly lower than the price of a coupon for a year.

Another important factor is the hospitals that insurance companies work with. Some institutions provide a standard package of services at a regular price, while others provide an elite service with an appropriate price. The insurance policy's pricing policy also depends on the client's health. If there is a history of chronic diseases that require systematic treatment, this will be reflected in the cost.

Regulatory acts provide recommendations, following which the cost of the coupon will be up to 12 thousand Russian rubles. As practice shows, the average price segment on the market ranges from 4-7 thousand. You can find more detailed information regarding the cost of insurance policies on the websites of specific insurance companies.

VHI for foreign citizens is issued very quickly. The maximum period for issuing documents is 2-3 days. Most companies issue a coupon on the day of submitting documents.

Who pays for VHI for a foreign citizen?

Financial obligations regarding the registration of an insurance policy are assigned directly to the person who needs to receive a coupon. In some situations, the employer pays for the insurance policy. This issue is regulated by the agreement signed by the parties earlier.

VHI policy for foreign citizens is paid depending on the situation, namely:

• independently, subject to a tourist visit;
• the employer, if he is involved in processing the employee’s documents.

Insurance payment procedure

Depending on the purpose of stay in Russia, the source of payment for VHI for foreign citizens may vary:

Insurance for children of foreign citizens

Making a pole for a child is called a mandatory condition, if desired, legally located in the state. The pole is required in all preschool or school childcare settings. The minimum scope of medical services must include:

• outpatient examination;
• inpatient treatment in specialized departments;
• vaccination and receiving vaccinations;
• providing emergency assistance if necessary.

Insurance for pregnant women

VHI for pregnant foreign citizens (in addition to standard procedures) has an additional list. This includes:

• visiting a gynecologist as planned, examining specialized specialists, and monitoring them throughout pregnancy;
• research using laboratory facilities;
• fetal cardiography, ultrasound waves (planned studies, as well as urgent);
• courses for training expectant mothers;
• childbirth itself;
• supervision of specialists in the postpartum period.

Insurance for students

Students from other countries are no exception from the point of view of insurance legislation. VHI for foreign students is mandatory. The procedure for signing documents with the subsequent creation of an insurance policy for this category of citizens has some features. Before signing the agreement, you must check with the administration of the educational institution. Perhaps management entered into contracts with insurance companies. In such a situation, purchasing an insurance policy will be much cheaper for the student.