Armenia Health Insurance

The Republic of Armenia is a landlocked country located in the Caucasus region of Eastern Europe and it shares borders with Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Armenia’s terrain is predominately mountainous with few forests or rivers. There are approximately 3.3 million people living within its land area of 29,743 square kilometers. Incorporated into Soviet Russia in 1922, Armenia then became the first non-Baltic state to declare independence in 1990. Following independence, the new government looked west towards Europe and began implementing various economic reforms with the aim of applying to become a member of the European Union. At present, agriculture is the dominant sector of the economy and it employs 40 percent of the country’s workforce and accounts for 30 percent of GDP. With Christian churches dating back to the 4th Century, Armenia has many buildings and locations of historical interest and large numbers of tourists visit the country annually.

Armenia Health Care and Insurance

Post independence, restructuring and reform of the health care system was required as the government and the Ministry of Health sought to move away from the centralized Soviet style of health care provision. Local, regional and national administrative departments manage and maintain public health facilities within their area. Public health facilities are now comprised of rural health posts, regional polyclinics and hospitals. The private health care sector is small and underdeveloped; there are few private health care facilities in operation in Armenia. Certain medical treatments are available to Armenian citizens at low cost through a Basic Benefits Package (BBP). Expatriates and travelers are not entitled to avail of the BBP scheme and are required to pay in cash at the time of any treatment received. Purchasing an international Armenia health insurance policy is, therefore, strongly advised.

Rural health posts and regional polyclinics constitute Armenia’s primary health care facilities. Health posts are generally staffed by one physician and a team of nurses and there are approximately 500 such facilities throughout the country. Services and treatments available include immunization, child and maternity, emergency and basic services for adults and children. Medical situations outside the scope of health posts are then referred to a regional polyclinic. These clinics are staffed by a small number of doctors, physicians, midwives, nurses and general administrative staff and there are an estimated 37 such clinics in operation throughout Armenia. The capital city Yerevan is where the majority of hospitals can be found. These hospitals operate on a referral basis and provide a broad range of services including in-patient, out-patient, maternal, pediatric and general surgical procedures.

The Armenian health care system is in need of modernization and would rank considerably below health standards in Europe. Inadequate levels of funding available to the health care sector have prevented it from modernizing and developing health infrastructure. The standard of health facilities deteriorates the further you travel outside of Yerevan and other large population areas. In some remote and rural parts of Armenia, health facilities will be primitive and may be extremely difficult to locate. Public confidence in government run health care facilities is low and an estimated one third of citizens can either not afford health care payments or avoid seeking medical assistance. Gratuitous payments to health personnel are often required before treatment will be approved. Expatriates and travelers are advised to use private health facilities wherever possible. There are three such facilities in Yerevan and being in possession of an Armenia health insurance policy can help provide quick access to a higher standard of health care at private health facilities.

Armenia Travel Insurance Concerns

Not long after independence was declared, ethnic Armenians living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan began a campaign to break away and establish control of the region. This action was supported by the Armenian government and intense fighting followed which lasted for three years. Although a ceasefire was declared in 1994, no political agreement has been reached and the two sides are technically still at war. Land borders between Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan remain closed to this day. Turkey intervened on the side of Azerbaijan and they have also closed their borders with Armenia. As such, there is a travel warning in place affecting these areas and they are regularly patrolled by the police and military. Travelers are advised to avoid these border areas as isolated incidents of fighting still occur.

Armenia experiences a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. It is located within an active seismic area and tremors are common. A 1988 earthquake in Spitak caused considerable damage and killed 25,000 while also displacing 500,000 people. Crime levels in Armenia are quite low although incidents of street crime such as pick pocketing and muggings do occur. Travelers and expatriates are urged to avoid handling large sums of cash in public and to exercise caution when using ATMs, particularly at night. Vaccinations for Polio, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Rabies are advised. The warm summer months also provide ideal conditions for ticks to breed. The disease tick borne encephalitis can be spread by the bite of an infected tick and precautions against insect bites should be adopted.

Armenia Expat Health Insurance

The health care system in Armenia is below the standards an experienced expatriate or traveler has become accustomed to. Public health facilities are blighted by long waiting times, poor management structure and outdated equipment. Private health facilities offer a higher standard of care although the costs involved are considerably higher than those in the public sector. Should an expatriate or traveler require health care services while in Armenia, they will be required to pay in cash at the time of treatment. Purchasing an international Armenia health insurance policy can protect against exorbitant medical costs. Expat Medical Insurance can advise on which policies best suit you and your family. Insurance plans can be tailored to include benefits specifically designed to meet your needs. For more information on Armenia health insurance plans, or to receive information on expat health insurance, please contact one of our advisors today.