Deputy Zhyldyz Egenberdieva noted that patients with a mandatory health insurance policy must make co-payments for services in medical institutions: the cost of therapy is 840 soms, while surgery costs 1500 soms. Mukhanov added that the amount of co-payment varies depending on the type of treatment and the level of the medical institution.
According to Egenberdieva, citizens without a mandatory health insurance policy face the problem of lacking insurance when they go to the hospital. As a result, they are forced to contact the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund to purchase a policy but encounter the necessity of waiting five days before the insurance takes effect. If a patient urgently needs assistance, they will have to pay for treatment out of pocket—therapy will cost 8400 soms, and surgery will cost 14,310 soms.
The deputy inquired how such a procedure could be explained.
Mukhanov confirmed that it is possible to issue a mandatory health insurance policy remotely thanks to modern technologies.
“Previously, the waiting period was one month, then it was reduced to 15 days, and now the minimum period is five days. Funds must be deposited in the bank, then transferred to us and processed. Moreover, there is an insurance principle: insurance must be arranged in advance, not at the moment the risk arises. Emergency medical services are provided free of charge. We are talking about planned interventions that can be scheduled within five days,” he explained.
When asked about the possibility of immediate issuance of a policy, Mukhanov replied that this would violate the principle of insurance, and policies would only be purchased right before specific medical procedures.
