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In a significant move, Kazakhstan has signed a law for the largest update of its mandatory social medical insurance system in recent years. Here's what you need to know about the changes and their implications.
Starting from 2026, Kazakhstan will transition to a full-fledged insurance model, where responsibility for health is shared between the state, employers, and citizens. This shift aims to expand coverage, strengthen social justice, and reinforce the financial stability of the system.
For employed individuals, the maximum base for contributions to the Social Medical Insurance System (OSMSS) will increase to 1.7 million tenge, capping the monthly payment at around 34,000 tenge. For employers, the calculation base will increase to 40 minimum wages.
However, only a limited group of people will have to pay more: roughly 20,000 workers with monthly incomes exceeding 3.4 million tenge, which is only 0.36% of all employed individuals in the country.
From 2027, the state's contribution to the OSMSS for privileged categories will gradually increase, reaching 4.7% by 2037.
The reforms aim to ensure that anyone, regardless of their wealth or employment status, can receive timely, quality medical care. From 2026, around 1 million people (5% of the low-income population) will gain access to planned medical care through insurance.
For those who are temporarily unemployed or not yet participating, it's important to note that the system is contributory. This means that status depends on regular payment of insurance contributions. Individual entrepreneurs must regularly pay contributions to maintain their insured status, which grants access to quality medical care.
Temporarily unemployed persons may risk losing insured status if contributions are not maintained, impacting their access to medical services under the compulsory insurance scheme. There is no indication that the system automatically covers unemployed or non-participating individuals without payment; thus, those not paying contributions may be excluded from benefits.
To check one's status in the compulsory health insurance system (CHI) in Kazakhstan, individuals can use the online service provided by the Social Health Insurance Fund (FSHI). The official portal allows users to check their insurance status via a calculator or by submitting their Individual Identification Number (IIN) to verify if they are currently insured under the system.
Online registration for the compulsory health insurance system is also available. Voluntary enrollment in the OSMSS is available for those not yet participating in the system, with the cost considered insignificant compared to the expense of treating a serious illness.
For assistance in understanding and processing necessary documents for compulsory health insurance, City Polyclinic No. 4 is ready to help.
In summary, individuals should regularly verify their insurance status through the official FSHI platform and maintain their contributions to ensure continuous access to healthcare. Those temporarily unemployed or not paying contributions risk losing insurance status and corresponding benefits.
[1] Source: FSHI Official Portal [5] Source: World Bank
In light of the reforms, the Kazakhstan government aims to improve healthcare access and quality for all, regardless of wealth or employment status, by 2026. By this time, a transition to a full-fledged insurance model will be implemented, with a focus on expanding coverage, strengthening social justice, and ensuring financial stability of the Social Medical Insurance System (OSMSS).
Under the new system, the largest update in recent years, individuals will have access to planned medical care through insurance, particularly benefitting the low-income population as around 1 million people will gain access starting from 2026. However, regular payment of insurance contributions is essential to maintain insured status and access to quality medical care, as defined by the compulsory health insurance system (CHI) in Kazakhstan.
