Kazakhstan to Shift Healthcare Financing to Insurance Model by 2027

Starting in 2027, Kazakhstan’s healthcare system will transition to an insurance-based financing model. Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova announced this during the first reading of a bill on improving the compulsory medical insurance system, Orda.kz reports.

The Ministry of Health is currently developing a unified package of basic state medical services. Each Kazakhstani will receive a clearly defined set of services available under insurance, funded through the Compulsory Social Health Insurance system (OSMS), with financing provided from the state budget.

As Minister Alnazarova explained, beginning January 1, 2026, insurance contribution thresholds will rise from 10 to 50 minimum wages annually.

This change will affect 9% of employees and their employers.

In global practice, income level restrictions are not applied anywhere. As a result, we will move from regressive taxation of compulsory medical insurance contributions to a flat scale,
 said Akmaral Alnazarova.

Akimats will also begin paying insurance contributions for the unemployed and individuals in crisis situations.

This measure is expected to add about one million more people to the compulsory medical insurance system.

The government will also gradually increase its contributions, from 2% to 5% over ten years, increasing by 0.5% every two years.

To ensure fair distribution of the financial burden, it is proposed that regional average wage levels be used in calculations, preventing poorer regions from being overburdened and ensuring wealthier ones contribute proportionately.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov