Armenian health minister says insurance covers essential care, not extras

Armenia’s health minister says medical care under the country’s insurance system is not free, underscoring that patients must pay for additional comfort or private services.

“Nothing is free,” Anahit Avanesyan told reporters on Wednesday, explaining that the state covers a defined package of services through insurance contracts with medical centers. For most treatments, patients pay nothing out of pocket, with costs fully covered by the insurance fund, she said.

Avanesyan noted that hospitals will continue to offer paid rooms. If standard beds are unavailable, patients may need to pay for alternatives or seek care at another facility. “Our medical centers’ capacities are not unlimited,” she said, adding that the system guarantees access to essential services but not to specific hospitals or premium amenities.

She said the government’s priority is to ensure citizens’ necessary medical needs are met, while extra comfort and services remain chargeable.