All foreign citizens and stateless persons (including citizens of the countries of the Customs Union - Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan) living on the territory of the Russian Federation are required to have health insurance. In the Russian Federation, there are two types of insurance for foreign citizens/stateless persons: compulsory health insurance (CHI) or voluntary health insurance (VHI). Any foreigner in the Russian Federation can apply for a VHI policy. A limited number of persons can apply for a compulsory medical insurance policy for foreign citizens.
Features of medical insurance for foreigners in the Russian Federation
The provision of health insurance services in the Russian Federation is regulated mainly by the following legislative acts:
- Federal Law “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation” dated August 15, 1996 No. 114-FZ;
- Federal Law “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation” dated July 25, 2002 No. 115-FZ;
- Federal Law “On Compulsory Health Insurance in the Russian Federation” dated November 29, 2010 No. 326-FZ.
As of 2021, all foreign citizens in the Russian Federation are required to take out medical insurance under the voluntary health insurance program on the first day of their arrival in the Russian Federation. The purpose of the trip does not matter. Treatment costs under the voluntary health insurance program are covered by the insurer.
If such a right exists, a foreigner can apply for a compulsory medical insurance policy. To obtain a temporary health insurance policy for foreign citizens in 2021, you must submit an application at your place of residence. A temporary one is issued while the main document is being prepared. After the main policy is issued, the temporary one is withdrawn.
A foreigner who has medical insurance in the Russian Federation under the Voluntary Medical Insurance or Compulsory Medical Insurance program has the opportunity to take advantage of the following types of medical services:
- medical care in the event of an insured event;
- calling a doctor;
- hospital stay;
- performing surgical operations.
In some cases, foreign citizens are required to take out a compulsory medical insurance policy.
CIS citizens will be forced to buy health insurance when entering Russia
State Duma deputies decided to change the procedure for the entry of foreigners into Russia and oblige them to buy a medical insurance policy when crossing the border. As the author of the initiative, State Duma deputy from United Russia Alexei Zhuravlev, explained, this is being done in order to stop illegal “medical tourism”, when citizens of CIS countries come to Russia for qualified and free medical care. Most often these are foreigners with complex diseases, as well as women in labor.
Now, according to Zhuravlev, this process is actually not regulated by law. According to the law “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation,” foreign citizens who only enter Russia on a visa are required to provide medical insurance, but in the visa-free version there are no such obligations. In Art. 19 of the Law “On the Fundamentals of Health Protection” states that the procedure for providing medical care to foreign citizens is determined by Government Decree No. 186. The resolution, in particular, states that foreign citizens in the event of illnesses, accidents, injuries, poisoning and other conditions requiring urgent medical intervention , ambulance, including specialized, medical care is provided free of charge.
The deputy proposes to amend Art. 19 of the law “On the fundamentals of protecting the health of citizens”, as well as in Art. 25.9 of the law “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation.” According to Zhuravlev’s proposal, the amendments will oblige citizens of the former USSR to buy a policy.
The deputy notes that in Russia ambulance is divided into two types: urgent and emergency. Emergency is when there is a threat to life, for example during terrorist attacks, accidents, etc. According to Zhuravlev’s idea, this medical care will remain free. And the emergency room, which includes childbirth, will already be paid for for foreigners.
Zhuravlev also insists that after providing any assistance other than emergency assistance, the Russian Federation would issue an invoice to migrants.
— Citizens of the Russian Federation, when they travel abroad, buy insurance, this is logical. In the absence of it, most civilized countries still provide medical care, but then they issue a bill, and this is tens of thousands of euros. We believe that this practice should be introduced in our country. Citizens who come to visit us are required to buy health insurance,” says Zhuravlev.
According to his proposal, a foreigner who has received medical care and does not have the means to pay for it is subject to immediate deportation.
“The amount of debt of a treated and then deported foreigner to our country does not disappear anywhere, and he will be prohibited from entering the Russian Federation until he pays this bill,” the deputy emphasizes.
To illustrate the problem, Zhuravlev cites the example of Vladivostok Clinical Maternity Hospital No. 3, where during 2011 83 women in labor from the CIS countries who did not have an insurance policy applied, and five of them did not have any identification documents at all. All of them received medical care to accompany childbirth and the postpartum period free of charge.
Colleagues in the State Duma agree with Alexey Zhuravlev that the problem of providing medical care to citizens from the CIS countries is becoming increasingly significant for the Russian budget.
The head of the Duma Committee on Health Protection, Sergei Kalashnikov, says that the problem has reached such proportions that in fact Russia has become a maternity hospital for the CIS countries.
According to him, the Russian budget costs for medical care for migrants are colossal. Hundreds of millions of rubles of Russian taxpayers' funds are spent annually on providing assistance to citizens of neighboring countries.
— This problem needs to be solved comprehensively. When entering, you need to do what many countries have done: introduce health insurance and oblige you to buy it. On the other hand, many migrant workers are often unable to buy medical insurance; the issue of attracting migrants to work needs to be resolved. If an employer hires guest workers, then he must resolve the issue of medical insurance by paying the required amount one-time for a year, suggests Kalashnikov.
Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs Leonid Slutsky agrees with his colleagues that resolving the issue cannot be delayed.
“It is necessary to study the experience of other countries, to involve representatives of relevant State Duma committees and departments in this work - primarily the Ministry of Health and the Federal Migration Service. Zhuravlev is right that Russia loses very significant funds by providing such medical care. People come only to go to an ambulance and receive free treatment,” says Slutsky.
Member of the Health Protection Committee Salia Murzabaeva is sure that the problem is not only in providing emergency care to foreigners, but also in planned care.
“The employer’s responsibility to provide medical insurance to the employee and his family members should be strengthened so that medical care is available to migrant workers,” she says.
The explanatory note to the bill states that today the cost of an ambulance service exceeds 1.5 thousand rubles, and the cost of paid childbirth is about 60 thousand rubles. For foreign citizens who do not have health insurance, the specified medical services provided by medical organizations of the state and municipal health care systems are provided at the expense of budgetary funds, the source of which is taxpayer funds.
Providing medical services to foreigners without an insurance policy in the Russian Federation
Foreign citizens/stateless persons who find themselves for some reason in the Russian Federation without medical insurance have access to only two types of services:
- First aid. It appears to the victim at the scene of the incident/during his delivery to a medical facility or to a suddenly ill person. This type of service also includes calling an ambulance.
- Emergency. Involves providing assistance in cases where urgent medical intervention and stabilization of the patient's condition are required.
These types of services are provided free of charge by state medical institutions.
How is it issued and what does a VHI policy give to foreigners in the Russian Federation?
According to the current Federal Law No. 114, every foreigner entering the territory of the Russian Federation is already required to have a VHI policy with him. At the same time, the Labor Code of the Russian Federation requires that it be purchased after crossing the border. This legal conflict has led to the fact that foreigners entering the territory of the Russian Federation are often illegally charged fines for the lack of an insurance document. If you find yourself in such a situation, remember that the Labor Code of the Russian Federation has higher priority over the mentioned federal law: contact law enforcement agencies.
By concluding an agreement with an insurer under VHI, the client chooses the most suitable program for himself. Such an agreement gives the right to receive services in commercial clinics with which the insurer has an agreement.
VHI cost
The issue of budget costs when obtaining a health insurance policy in a voluntary format is regulated by the terms of the insurance contract of a specific insurance company.
But in all cases, tariffs for labor patent holders will be noticeably lower - on average by 0.5-1.5 thousand rubles. For different insurers, the policy price can range from 3 thousand to 10-13 thousand rubles. This cost depends on the list of insured events included in the policy.
In addition, this tariff is influenced by the cost of services of medical institutions with which the insurance company cooperates, the state of health of the insured person at the time of execution of the contract, his age, as well as the risks associated with the performance of professional activities.
Accordingly, the amounts of insurance coverage differ. They can reach 120,000 - 900,000 thousand rubles.
To summarize, we can convincingly speak about respect for the rights of foreign citizens in relation to voluntary health insurance on the territory of Russia.
What is a compulsory medical insurance policy and are all foreigners required to apply for it in the Russian Federation?
The compulsory medical insurance policy provides citizens of the Russian Federation with equal opportunities to receive medical services in state medical and preventive institutions.
The following categories of foreigners are required to have a compulsory medical insurance policy:
- staying on the territory of the country with a temporary residence permit or residence permit (does not apply to citizens from the CIS countries);
- children with foreign citizenship;
- those who arrived at the invitation of the employer to work at a specific enterprise (including citizens from the CIS countries);
- holders of a temporary migrant certificate.
Thus, whether compulsory medical insurance is required for foreigners in Russia depends on their status and purpose of stay. If a foreigner is staying on the territory of the Russian Federation temporarily, on the basis of a migration card or visa, he is not required to draw up such a document.
There is a basic and territorial compulsory medical insurance program. The territorial program includes a wider range of services. The policy is issued in a standardized envelope in the form of paper or a plastic card. If desired, a universal electronic card can be issued.
What is a VHI and compulsory medical insurance policy and why are they needed?
Compulsory medical insurance policy
In Russia, visiting a doctor is free for a patient under the compulsory medical insurance system, but the medical institution receives remuneration for its work. Payment for treatment is carried out by the insurance company. The activities of this organization are financed by the compulsory health insurance fund - funds from the Federal budget.
That is why every citizen of the Russian Federation is issued a compulsory medical insurance policy. The document indicates which insurance company is responsible for allocating funds for the patient’s treatment. The compulsory health insurance fund is replenished by regular contributions from employers.
Attention! According to the law, citizens of the Russian Federation are obliged to provide free medical care in any region of the country, regardless of registration.
VHI policy
Not all compulsory health insurance services can be obtained for free. For example, the list does not include dental prosthetics, a number of diagnostic procedures, and expanded vaccinations. When turning to free help, the patient is limited in the choice of specialists, is forced to sit in queues and wait for weeks for an appointment for diagnostics or to see a specialist doctor.
In this case, VHI helps. It allows you to choose which doctor to see, gives you the right to priority treatment and access to a range of medical services. VHI can be considered as a type of personal insurance. What services will be available to the client depends on the insurance program.
Advantages of a compulsory medical insurance policy
The presence of a compulsory medical insurance policy guarantees its owner free medical care throughout the Russian Federation, regardless of the region and in all state clinics.
Services provided under this program include:
- emergency medical care;
- outpatient care, including diagnostics, treatment at home or in a hospital (medicines are purchased at the patient’s expense);
- inpatient care for acute diseases and exacerbations of chronic diseases, poisoning, injuries, childbirth/abortion, pregnancy pathologies (including planned hospitalization, rehabilitation, intensive care, isolation for epidemiological reasons and round-the-clock medical supervision).
Payment for medical services under this program is carried out by the employer of the insured person or the state.
Can a foreign citizen receive a compulsory medical insurance policy?
The compulsory medical insurance policy is a special document designed to guarantee the receipt of timely medical care throughout the entire territory of the Russian Federation without exception.
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Foreigners coming to Russia for temporary or permanent residence need to attend to the preparation of an important document. Otherwise, without a foreign citizen having a compulsory medical insurance policy, medical care will be provided only on a commercial basis.
people who do not have confirmed citizenship, but permanently reside in Russia;.
Categories of citizens entitled to compulsory medical insurance in the Russian Federation
According to the current legislation, the following categories of citizens of the Russian Federation, foreigners / stateless persons can apply for a compulsory medical insurance policy on the territory of the Russian Federation:
- those who are employed or self-sufficient in work, as well as members of farms and those engaged in traditional economic sectors as part of communities of indigenous peoples;
- unemployed and officially registered as unemployed, permanently residing in the Russian Federation;
- pensioners;
- minor citizens;
- refugees/those granted temporary asylum;
- schoolchildren and minors under 18 years of age (except for students);
- Parents and guardians caring for children under three years of age, disabled children, group I disabled people over the age of 80.
An obstacle to obtaining compulsory medical insurance for a foreigner/stateless person may be the lack of an invitation from the employer/work permit, an expired temporary residence permit, or the lack of a residence permit.
Registration of a compulsory medical insurance policy for various categories of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation
The procedure for obtaining a policy depends on which category of foreign citizens the applicant belongs to. The package of documents provided and the insurance period also depend on this.
Many questions arise regarding minors.
The presence of an insurance policy for parents does not guarantee the provision of medical services to their children, however, before receiving a birth certificate (up to 3 months), a newborn can receive medical services under the mother’s compulsory medical insurance policy.
Explaining how to obtain a compulsory medical insurance policy for a foreign child, the law requires an application to be submitted to a legal representative for a minor. Externally and in terms of the list of services, a child’s policy is no different from an adult’s. Some paid clinics may provide free services on the basis of compulsory medical insurance for children. In this case, a referral from the clinic at your place of residence will be required. Changing the institution where medical services will be provided for the child is permitted only once a year.
Obtaining a compulsory medical insurance policy for foreigners with a temporary residence permit
In 2021, a compulsory medical insurance policy for foreign citizens with temporary residence permits is mandatory, in accordance with the Federal Law “On Compulsory Medical Insurance in the Russian Federation.” The basis for filing an application is a valid mark in the passport indicating the presence of a temporary residence permit. Since such a mark cannot be extended and is placed only once, the document can also be issued only once. This policy does not apply to family members.
After a year, foreigners with a temporary residence permit can apply for a residence permit.
Obtaining a compulsory medical insurance policy for foreigners with a residence permit
Foreign citizens/stateless persons who have received a residence permit in the Russian Federation are required to submit documents at their place of residence to apply for a new compulsory medical insurance policy in accordance with the law “On Compulsory Health Insurance in the Russian Federation.” Since their status has changed, the old policy issued on the basis of a temporary residence permit becomes invalid. Medical services will, as before, be provided at the place of residence/registration. According to the document, only one person without his family members can be served.
As you know, a residence permit practically equates a foreigner in terms of social security to a Russian citizen.
Obtaining compulsory medical insurance policy for foreigners with refugee status
Refugees have the right to obtain an insurance policy under the compulsory medical insurance program only if they have been officially recognized as such. The right to receive a document is stipulated in the text of the law “On Compulsory Health Insurance in the Russian Federation.” At the same time, refugees can choose the institution where medical services will be provided: they only need to submit an application.
Confirmation of refugee status can be three documents: a valid ID, a certificate of consideration of an application for refugee recognition, or a copy of the complaint against the decision to revoke refugee status.
Is it possible to get a compulsory medical insurance policy for a foreign student?
Foreign students in the Russian Federation are treated as unemployed who are not registered at the labor exchange, and therefore are not entitled to a compulsory medical insurance policy. They can only count on emergency medical care for free. Other medical services will be provided to them on a paid basis in commercial clinics or under the VHI program.
It should be noted that foreign students in the Russian Federation are a category of persons who are required by law to take out voluntary health insurance immediately upon arrival in the Russian Federation.
Representatives of educational institutions in Russia often provide assistance in obtaining voluntary health insurance policies for their students.
Health insurance for migrants
Every foreigner who sets foot on Russian territory with the intention of staying here for a certain period of time must obtain medical insurance.
This is a prerequisite for providing care in hospitals and in emergency situations. If a migrant does not fall into the category of persons entitled to a free policy, he must take care of his safety in advance and buy insurance. In this case, he is issued a VHI policy valid throughout the entire territory of the host country.
Legal basis
When obtaining a visa to Russia, you must also provide voluntary health insurance. This condition is mandatory.
The provision of health insurance is limited by the following legal provisions:
- Federal Law No. 114 dated August 15, 1996;
- Federal Law No. 115.
Law No. 114 establishes a ban on the entry of persons with foreign citizenship without a policy valid within the Russian Federation. The exceptions are employees of multinational companies and employees of political missions.
Law No. 115 regulates the conditions for foreigners to stay in Russia, indicates the rules for crossing borders, and determines measures for deportation from the country.
If a resident receives a Russian Federation visa for tourism, the procedure for obtaining voluntary health insurance awaits directly when submitting documents to enter the country. To receive treatment, education, and employment, the same set of federal laws will apply.
It is important to remember that from June 15, 2021, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 274, the measure of placement in observation for 14 days for incoming foreigners has been replaced. Now VHI is issued only if there is a negative test for COVID-19.
Systematizing the requirements of the Federal Law for foreign citizens, the Bank of Russia published instruction No. 3793-U dated September 15, 2015, according to which the amount of insurance coverage for a migrant cannot be less than 100,000 rubles.
The policy contains mandatory details: series and number, as well as disclose information about the policyholder, insurer and insured citizen. The contract specifies the conditions for the VHI to come into force after the insured person receives a patent or employment contract.
Why do migrants need a compulsory insurance policy: nuances and mechanism of action
A certain proportion of foreign citizens have the right to receive compulsory medical insurance. Without this document, clinic doctors may refuse examination and treatment. There are cases when even ambulance teams refused to go to the address of a patient without insurance. Although by law, uninsured persons can qualify for medical care in emergency cases.
Compulsory medical insurance gives its holder the following rights:
- Free access to doctors (local therapists and specialists);
- Emergency care (for poisoning, injuries, etc.);
- Planned treatment;
- Examination.
The listed services are included in the basic package. In different regions, additions to the state program are provided that expand the list of services provided. Regional programs differ greatly from each other. More favorable conditions are offered to insured persons in the central part of Russia.
What is included in the cost of the insurance policy?
VHI insurance for foreign citizens covers the costs associated with the provision of the following types of medical services (by agreement with the client, additional medical services may be included in the insurance policy):
- Emergency hospitalization
- Assistance in the emergency room (24 hours a day)
- Providing emergency first aid on an outpatient basis
- Preparation of medical documents (sick leave, prescriptions)
- Dental care (relief from acute pain)
The need for a policy for foreign citizens
Without an insurance policy, a migrant is considered to have entered illegally. This is a mandatory condition for staying in the country. Each resident is obliged to take care of the availability of voluntary health insurance, which is provided from personal funds, at the expense of the host employer or organization. This does not depend on the duration and motives of stay on the territory of the Russian Federation.
Migrant workers who have a work patent must take into account the validity period of the policy. The period for which it is designed cannot be shorter than the concluded employment contract. Letter No. 16-4 of the Ministry of Labor dated September 26, 2021 states this condition.
Difference between types of insurance
The issuance of any policy involves the provision of services at the time of the occurrence of the insured event. Help situations include:
- Poisoning;
- Sudden illnesses;
- Accidents and so on.
As part of its validity, a foreigner can:
- Call a doctor;
- Get help on an outpatient or inpatient basis.
The procedure for obtaining a compulsory medical insurance policy
The policy is issued at the insurance organization at the foreigner’s place of residence. The entire procedure, provided you have the required documents, takes no more than 15 minutes. After submitting an application, a foreign citizen is issued a temporary compulsory medical insurance policy. After 30 days, he will be able to receive the main document by submitting a temporary one in the same place where the application was submitted.
Package of documents
The legal status of the applicant determines what documents are required to obtain a compulsory medical insurance policy.
In any case, you will need to prepare:
- application on behalf of the insured person / his legal representative;
- identity card or equivalent document;
- SNILS if available.
| Package of documents for compulsory medical insurance for foreigners in the Russian Federation | |
| Category of foreign citizens | List of additional documents |
| 1. Adults with RVP | Passport with a note about a valid temporary residence permit |
| 2. Adults with a residence permit |
|
| 3. Adult refugees |
|
| 4. Minors |
|
Citizens of the EAEU temporarily staying in the territory provide an employment contract, SNILS, identity card and a detachable part of the notification form of arrival at the place of stay, indicating the place and duration of stay (a copy is allowed).
Where is the compulsory medical insurance policy issued and issued?
You can submit an application for a policy with a package of documents through the following authorities:
- territorial Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund at the place of stay;
- in the offices of organizations involved in the implementation of compulsory medical insurance in a particular region (their list is established by the territorial compulsory medical insurance fund);
- at home for persons with disabilities through representatives of companies, the list of which is approved by the territorial compulsory medical insurance fund;
- points for issuing compulsory medical insurance policies at clinics and MFCs;
- insurance for foreigners in Russia online through the Unified Documentation Center, the Unified Medical Information and Analytical System (EMIAS) in Moscow or on the insurance company’s website.
Transfer of the finished document is carried out only personally in the hands of the insured person / his legal representative.
Compulsory medical insurance policy for foreigners: conditions for obtaining.
Sample compulsory medical insurance policy.
In 2010, compulsory health insurance for citizens began to operate in our country. This system made the rights of Russian citizens, foreigners and stateless persons equal to receive qualified medical care. This right is confirmed by a document issued by the insurance company - a compulsory medical insurance policy. Its owner can contact all Russian state medical institutions to receive the necessary medical care free of charge.
This right is confirmed by a document issued by the insurance company, the compulsory medical insurance policy.
Where to get compulsory medical insurance for foreign citizens in 2021
The provisions of Law No. 362-FZ provide the policyholder with the opportunity to choose an insurance company to conclude a contract based on personal preferences. Based on this, foreign citizens can receive a compulsory medical insurance policy as follows:
- The insured can be an employer who has hired foreign highly qualified specialists to work at his enterprise. He makes contributions to the Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund on the basis of hired workers. When concluding a corporate agreement, the policy is issued by the responsible insurer.
- Foreigners engaged in private practice or self-employment make contributions independently. They can personally choose an insurer and enter into an agreement with him, receiving a policy, as Russian entrepreneurs receive.
- Disabled persons - foreigners who have a temporary residence permit, residence permit, apply for a policy for foreign citizens in accordance with the general procedure.
Citizens of foreign countries who have received refugee (temporary migrant) status have the right to choose any insurance company to obtain insurance.
persons who have the right of permanent residence, a passport or other document recognized as an identity card, if they have a SNILS;
Who can receive compulsory medical insurance
For some categories of foreign citizens or stateless persons, obtaining a policy is possible in several cases; the method of obtaining depends on the status of a foreigner who is permanently located on the territory of the Russian Federation.
Those who have received a temporary residence permit or temporary residence permit.
List of documents
The required list of documents includes:
- passport;
- application for a policy (written according to the sample);
- SNILS.
In the future, the list is asked to be supplemented. Thus, a temporary residence permit must be provided with a passport with a status mark, and citizens from countries that are members of the Customs Union must be provided with an arrival sheet and an employment contract.
The required list of documents includes:
The cost of issuing a compulsory medical insurance policy and its validity period for foreigners in the Russian Federation
The validity period of the compulsory medical insurance policy from January 1, 2021 is 1 year. The possibility of its extension depends on the status of the insured foreigner in the Russian Federation. It remains valid until the expiration of the temporary residence permit. Issued for an indefinite period to persons with a residence permit and minor children. If the document is drawn up by the employer, its validity is limited to the duration of the employment contract.
In 2021, the cost of a medical policy for Belarusians in Russia and citizens of other countries is covered by the employer or the state. The person purchasing the policy can choose the insurance company independently. You can also choose a clinic independently and free of charge where outpatient medical care will be provided. Detachment and assignment to a new clinic is carried out without additional payment.
The price of a compulsory medical insurance policy depends on the amount spent on the treatment of the insured person. The state annually budgets more than 10 thousand rubles for the treatment of one patient. This minimum, however, is regularly exceeded; for example, the state spends about 200 thousand rubles on caring for one newborn.
You can find out the cost of the services that were provided to you by ordering a certificate from a medical institution. The amount of funds contributed by the employer, that is, how much the compulsory medical insurance policy costs, is established by law. The standard rate at the moment is 5.1% of contributions from wages to compulsory medical insurance funds.
There are two preferential rates: for IT organizations - 4%, for participants in the free economic zone (FEZ) of Crimea and Sevastopol, residents of the priority development territory (TOR) and the free port of Vladivostok - 0.1%.
Who is charged insurance payments for the compulsory medical insurance policy?
Mandatory insurance payments for working citizens are made by the employer, for minors and non-workers - from the state budget, individual entrepreneurs (IP) make payments for themselves from their income.
The following categories of employers are exempt from payments:
- Individual entrepreneurs on a simplified tax scheme (STS), organizations with an income of at least 70% of their total profit, engaged in an established preferential type of activity;
- pharmacies/individual entrepreneurs on the unified tax on imputed income (UTII) with an issued pharmacy license;
- participants of the Skolkovo project;
- paying remuneration to crew members of ships registered in the registry.
Additional Information
In addition to the basic aspects of medical care for foreigners, there are a number of nuances that it is advisable to know for those who are faced with the treatment of guests from abroad, for example, registration of voluntary medical care, medical care for students and pregnant women.
Penalty for lack of insurance
From May 1, 2021, for lack of insurance, a foreign citizen must pay a fine of at least 2,000 rubles. At the same time, in Moscow and St. Petersburg it reaches 7 thousand.
Is medical care provided to foreigners without insurance?
Any person located in the Russian Federation has the right to receive emergency care even in the absence of a policy. Without this document, you can call an ambulance.
Any routine examinations, visits to the clinic, free appointments with pregnant women are carried out exclusively with a document on compulsory medical insurance. In this regard, its registration is necessary for any foreigner to receive a full range of medical services.
How to apply for VHI for a foreign citizen online
If a migrant does not fall under the conditions for issuing a compulsory medical insurance policy, he is required to purchase voluntary medical insurance. Today there is plenty to choose from: most insurance companies offer voluntary health insurance for foreigners. You can apply online on the insurance company’s website.
The procedure is simple: you need to select the package of services you are interested in (general therapeutic, with an emphasis on specialists), fill out your personal information and pay. All insurances comply with the migration requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation and are suitable for obtaining work and study visas.
How to get a medical policy for CIS citizens
There are no special rules for obtaining insurance for the single category “CIS citizens”, but there are special conditions for citizens of individual countries.
Starting from January 1, 2021, citizens from the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan), with the status of temporarily staying in the Russian Federation, have the right to obtain a compulsory medical insurance document free of charge.
Residents of the Republic of Belarus are also eligible for a separate preferential category. From January 1, 2021, according to new rules approved by order of the Ministry of Health of Russia dated October 27, 2021 (N 803n), Belarusians temporarily staying and working in the Russian Federation have the right to free medical care.
How much does VHI cost for foreign citizens in Moscow?
The main requirement of the legislation of the Russian Federation regarding VHI is the amount of insurance coverage. From 2021 it is 100,000 rubles. In this regard, the cost of the VHI policy has been increased.
The price of the document depends on the term of insurance, the age and gender of the insured, and the range of covered services. In accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, VHI for foreigners cannot cost less than 500 or more than 12,000 rubles.
On average in Moscow the cost of an insurance policy is 3 - 5 thousand rubles.
Is it possible to get a compulsory medical insurance policy for a foreign student?
In accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, foreign students are considered a category of unemployed citizens, and they cannot qualify for free medical care. An alternative for them is to take out voluntary insurance.
Design features for children
A child of a foreign citizen has the right to receive free medical care only if he has a residence permit. Until the document is issued, the minor cannot qualify for free assistance in the Russian Federation.
Regardless of whether his parents have a temporary residence permit and a valid work contract or not.
What pregnant women need to know
Pregnancy management in antenatal clinics is part of the compulsory medical insurance program. In this regard, women who have received a compulsory insurance policy are entitled to free scheduled examinations. Medical personnel are obligated to attend the birth even if the woman in labor does not have such a document.
In many cases, foreign citizens have the right to receive a compulsory medical insurance policy and subsequently receive free medical services. They can sign up for a voluntary health insurance policy by choosing a program from an insurance company.
Rules for compulsory medical insurance for CIS citizens
From January 1, 2021, compulsory health insurance in Russia for citizens of Kazakhstan and other CIS countries is provided even if they have the status of temporary residents, but are employed. If you have a legal place of work, the document is issued free of charge throughout the Russian Federation.
The basis for issuing a policy is an officially issued employment contract; a civil law contract is not equivalent to such a document: in this case, citizens of the CIS can only count on free emergency medical care.
Free insurance for citizens of Uzbekistan in Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Armenia is issued until the end of the employment contract. The policy does not apply to family members of the insured persons. Submitting an application and receiving the finished document is carried out by a foreign citizen independently. At the same time, he has the right to request full information about the features of the basic/territorial compulsory medical insurance program and independently choose a medical organization for outpatient care.
The result of applying for a compulsory medical insurance policy in the Russian Federation for a citizen of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan is the right to free medical care.
Features of compulsory medical insurance in the Russian Federation for citizens of Belarus
Medical care for citizens of Belarus on the territory of the Russian Federation is regulated by the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on the provision of medical care to citizens of the Republic in healthcare institutions of the Russian Federation and citizens of the Russian Federation in healthcare institutions of the Republic of Belarus dated January 24, 2006 and the relevant legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of insurance foreign citizens in the Russian Federation.
According to this document, a compulsory medical insurance policy for Belarusians in 2021 can be issued free of charge if the following conditions are met:
- availability of temporary residence permit or residence permit for non-working persons;
- Availability of a temporary residence permit and an employment contract for employed persons.
You can obtain additional information about the provision of medical care to citizens of Belarus in Russia from the following documents:
- Information letter of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation dated July 21, 2011 No. 20-1/10/2-7112;
- Letter of the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare dated August 12, 2013 No. 02i-913/13;
- Information letter of the Russian Ministry of Health dated April 22, 2015 No. 17-1/10/2-1621.
When advising on the topic of how to obtain a compulsory medical insurance policy for citizens of Belarus in Moscow and other Russian cities, experts emphasize that they cannot be refused in the absence of registration if they work under an employment contract with the status of temporarily staying in the Russian Federation.
The preferential category of citizens entitled to receive free medical care in the Russian Federation includes citizens of Belarus who have the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Glory of three degrees. To do this, they only need to provide their national passport and a document confirming their status.
Compulsory medical insurance policy for citizens of Ukraine
The procedure determining how a Ukrainian citizen can obtain a medical policy in Russia depends on his official status on the territory of the Russian Federation.
Ukrainian citizens temporarily staying on the territory of the Russian Federation are required to purchase a VHI policy and are not entitled to receive free medical care, with the exception of emergency care. Those who have a temporary residence permit/temporary residence permit can apply for compulsory medical insurance on the same conditions as other foreign citizens in the Russian Federation with this status.
The question of whether it is necessary to require a policy from a Ukrainian is probably of interest to many people from a state neighboring Russia. The answer is yes, because all foreigners on the territory of the Russian Federation are subject to health insurance. If this is a short-term trip, then travel medical insurance purchased at home will be sufficient. In case of a long stay in the Russian Federation, this should be a VHI or compulsory medical insurance policy. Lack of insurance leads to denial of most medical services.
It is possible to obtain free insurance for a citizen of Ukraine who has a temporary residence permit/residence permit or with refugee status or who has received temporary asylum throughout the entire territory of the Russian Federation. Submission of documents is carried out independently or by a legal representative of the insured person.
What categories of citizens are entitled to receive a compulsory medical insurance policy?
The Compulsory Medical Insurance Law applies only to temporarily and permanently residing in Russia.
The only exceptions are highly qualified specialists (and members of their families), whose salaries exceed 2 million rubles per year.
Foreign persons residing permanently on the territory of Russia, with a residence permit and permit, according to the law, are equal in rights and responsibilities with citizens of the Russian Federation .
This means that these categories of citizens can receive free medical care under the compulsory medical insurance . They are issued a compulsory medical insurance policy under the same conditions as Russians. Foreigners living in Russia temporarily can count on assistance, including medical and transport services, including repatriation (emergency evacuation).
Medical services for this category of citizens are provided in accordance with the contract and the amount of the paid insurance premium. The minimum list of services has been approved by the Russian Ministry of Health.
For foreign citizens who are temporarily on the territory of the Russian state, the compulsory medical insurance policy is not provided for by law .
This category of citizens can only count on receiving free emergency medical care:
- medical and preventive institutions;
- health workers or persons called upon to provide necessary medical care without fail in conditions that threaten the life and health of the patient.
Emergency medical care is provided to absolutely all categories of citizens compulsorily and free of charge.
Further medical services to a patient who has recovered from a critical condition are provided on a paid basis.
To receive routine care, you will need to provide medical documentation: extracts from the medical history, results of diagnostic and laboratory tests, etc. Foreign citizens can pay for medical services personally or through persons representing their interests .
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Before carrying out treatment, an advance payment is made, and after that the patient or his representative is sent an invoice for treatment and discharge , as well as research results indicating the length of stay in the hospital.
Special mention should be made about citizens of other countries studying in Russia.
According to the law on compulsory medical insurance, these persons are treated as unemployed and cannot receive a free compulsory medical insurance policy. Funds for medical services for foreigners studying in higher and secondary educational institutions are allocated from the federal budget . For this category of citizens there is a VHI (voluntary health insurance), which includes payment for certain medical services.
The issuance of a compulsory medical insurance policy also depends on the foreigner’s place of work.
The following categories of citizens can apply for a free policy:
- foreign citizens with temporary and permanent residence, working in various organizations, institutions, enterprises, etc.;
- unemployed citizens permanently residing in Russia with a residence permit;
- foreign citizens temporarily staying in Russia who are individual entrepreneurs who do not make remuneration to other persons and pay insurance premiums.
Penalties for lack of medical insurance
The amount of the fine for foreign citizens staying in Russia without medical insurance was established in 2021 and has not yet changed.
A fine can be imposed in two cases:
- lack of health insurance policy;
- non-compliance of the insurance amount with the minimum established norm of 100 thousand rubles under the VHI program.
The amount of the fine is not fixed and varies between 2-7 thousand rubles depending on the region.
What's included?
Depending on the country you are going to travel to, you can choose insurance with a coverage amount from 30,000 to 100,000 dollars or euros. All insurance options include the most necessary services:
- emergency medical and dental care
- medicines
- use of necessary medical equipment
- medical transportation
- aftercare
- transportation of remains
- evacuation of children
- exacerbation of chronic diseases
- returning from a trip
Summarizing
Taking out a medical insurance policy for foreign citizens in the Russian Federation is the responsibility of every foreigner entering the country. Submission of documents is carried out independently. If a number of conditions are met, a foreigner receives the right to apply for a compulsory medical insurance policy and free medical care in state and municipal clinics.
The document received in hand may be limited in validity (tied to the duration of the employment contract or the validity period of the status of a foreign person on the basis of which health insurance was obtained).
From January 1, 2021, old-style policies are being replaced with new ones. According to the new legislation, the policy period will be limited to 12 months. After this, it can be extended, but not longer than the validity period of a temporary residence permit, residence permit, refugee status / temporary asylum or an employment contract with a Russian employer. Only foreigners with a residence permit and citizens of the Russian Federation will now be able to receive indefinite compulsory medical insurance policies. However, the cancellation of compulsory medical insurance policies for foreigners will not become an obstacle to the provision of medical services to them: a temporary document will be issued while the policy is being replaced.
How to get a policy
Certain categories of persons among foreigners have the right to receive free medical care. The specific conditions for obtaining a medical document depend on the guest’s status of stay in the country.
For persons with RVP
Holders of a temporary residence permit can apply for a compulsory medical insurance policy. (Article 10 of the Federal Law of November 29, 2010 No. 326-FZ “On Compulsory Health Insurance in the Russian Federation”). There is no need to pay for the document.
Its validity period will be equal to the validity period of the permit. To obtain this, you can contact any insurance company.
Read: What to do after receiving a temporary residence permit
For persons with a residence permit
Foreigners with a residence permit need to contact an insurance company to apply for a compulsory medical insurance policy. You need to have with you: a national passport and a document confirming your status.
Important! The compulsory medical insurance document for a person with a residence permit is issued personally. Its effect does not apply to family members.
For foreigners with refugee status
Refugee status is confirmed by the issuance of a certificate. To apply for a compulsory medical insurance policy, you must present this document. The validity period of the insurance will be similar to the validity period of the certificate (usually 3 years).
To register, it is enough to submit an application for recognition as a refugee to the insurance company. If a negative decision is made, the compulsory medical insurance document is cancelled.
