VHI for foreign citizens: is it necessary, cost, how and where to apply?

Do foreigners need a VHI policy?

When discussing whether a temporary resident foreigner needs a VHI policy, it is recommended to refer to the legislative framework.
Several years ago, a law came into force obliging all foreigners legally present within the country to enter into an insurance contract for the purpose of providing services within medical institutions. In 2021, amendments were made to this law. Since January of this year, VHI has been issued as a compulsory medical insurance. It is recommended to purchase a coupon for medical insurance directly on the day of arrival. Otherwise, the presence of a foreigner within the Federation will be illegal.

Status does not play any role when applying for VHI. Purchasing an insurance policy is necessary regardless of the purpose and duration of stay. Purchasing voluntary health insurance is necessary both for a long-term stay (for example, for the purpose of employment) and for a one-day stay for tourism purposes.

Obligation to issue a VHI policy for citizens of Belarus in 2021 in the Russian Federation

The rules for accepting foreigners to work in the Russian Federation and the package of documents are established by Article 327 of the Labor Code. These include:

• VHI policy, except for cases where the employer has entered into a service agreement with a medical institution to provide services to employees on a paid basis on its own initiative;
• conclusion of a medical commission - on the state of health at the request of the employer;
• a certificate of no criminal record on the territory of the Republic of Belarus - in case of holding certain positions or additionally at the request of the employer;
• foreign passport of a foreign citizen;
• work book of the USSR or RF type, if previously hired in Russia;
• SNILS - for deduction of insurance premiums in the name of a foreigner to extra-budgetary funds;
• diplomas, certificates, other documents confirming professional qualifications;
• a patent or work permit in the Russian Federation, issued at the initiative of the inviting company or independently;
• residence permit or temporary residence permit for a long-term stay in the employee’s country.

Work books published in the Republic of Belarus are not accepted when applying for a job in a Russian company.

Important: for citizens of Belarus who enter the Russian Federation also in connection with getting a job, filling out a migration card at the border is not required. Belarusians enter the Russian Federation visa-free.

Compliance with migration rules for registration is ensured by the citizen of a foreign state when traveling independently to the Russian Federation, or by the employer if the company has taken responsibility for the foreigner’s stay within the country for the purpose of carrying out work activities. Responsibility for violating the deadline for registration within 30 days from the moment of crossing the state border rests respectively with the Belarusian or the receiving company.

Expert recommendation

When concluding an employment agreement, it is also necessary to notify the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation when submitting a notification with the attached contract within 3 days. Also, the notification must be submitted to the tax service no later than 3 days from the moment the act is signed by the employee and the employer. If a Belarusian stays in Russia for less than 30 days, a notice of stay is not submitted to the foreigner. The notice can be sent through the MFC, by mail, or in person, through a representative authorized by power of attorney when contacting the migration authority.

Golenkov O.O., employee of the migration department of the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation

What does a VHI policy look like?

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Polus VHI for foreign citizens is a guarantee of providing qualified assistance from specialists if the need arises. Insurance of this type is issued on A4 paper. The document contains information regarding:

1. Citizen identity.
2. Passport data.
3. Date of birth.
4. Category relative to risk group.
5. Duration of stay on the territory of the state, etc.

The policy contains a full description of the insurance program that applies in this case. You can find such data at the bottom of the sheet. When reading the document, it is recommended to carefully study all the information presented, including the fine print.

Since 2014, RESO-Garantiya has been offering an economical voluntary health insurance product for migrant workers. Foreign citizens and stateless persons who come to Russia to work or study can insure their health, as well as the health of their loved ones, using insurance programs and prices specially developed for them. The insurance policy with the basic program fully meets the requirements of Article 50.1 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation and the Directive of the Bank of Russia No. 3793-U “On the minimum (standard) requirements for the conditions and procedure for the implementation of medical insurance in terms of voluntary medical insurance of foreign citizens and stateless persons located on the territory of the Russian Federation for the purpose of carrying out their labor activities” and is sufficient for employment or obtaining a patent.

The basic insurance program includes primary health care and specialized emergency medical care.

Depending on the client’s wishes, additional risks may also be included in the insurance program in any combination.

For citizens who carry out labor activities on the basis of a patent or work permit, the “VHI-Labor” policy is issued on a special secure printed form with a RESO hologram.

The policy can be issued both for adults working in the Russian Federation and for the non-working population, including children, students, pensioners, housewives, guests temporarily staying in the Russian Federation, etc.

The validity period of the policy is from 3 months to 3 years, depending on the length of stay in the Russian Federation or the validity period of the patent/work permit.

"VHI-Trudovoy" is an affordable price and the most convenient conditions.
The policy is valid throughout Russia - no matter where it was purchased, the client’s stay in another city will not become an obstacle to receiving emergency medical care. Treatment is available in more than 200 cities across the country. The insurance program includes the entire range of economy-class medical institutions operating both in the capitals of the federal subjects and in smaller cities. All our client needs to know is the telephone number of the 24-hour RESO-Garantiya dispatch center specified in the insurance contract (policy). According to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, foreign citizens have the right to employment in a Russian company if they have a voluntary health insurance policy. RESO-Garantiya provides you with this opportunity with the “VHI-Labor” policy. Information about services does not constitute the final offer of RESO-Garantiya. The conditions for their provision, as well as payment of compensation, are fully specified in the Rules for voluntary health insurance for migrant workers (valid from 05/07/2019). This is not a public offer.

What does VHI insurance give to a foreigner: advantages

Speaking about what a VHI policy provides for foreign citizens, it is important to note that having an insurance coupon has many advantages compared to other papers of this kind. Among the main advantages of VHI are:

1. Obtaining VHI gives a foreigner the legal right to stay on the territory of the state legally. Otherwise, even if you have another insurance card, your stay is considered illegal.
2. The presence of a VHI coupon is the basis for applying to any government-type medical institutions in order to receive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, a full list of which is indicated by the policy. All medical services are provided free of charge.
3. In addition to providing care in a hospital setting or outpatient consultation, the policy provides for free emergency assistance (for example, when calling an ambulance).
4. The ability to independently choose the amount of assistance provided by the policy. The more expensive the cost of VHI, the more points it includes. A full set of insurance is relevant for those who stay in the state for a long time without leaving. If a person is here for several days, a simple package with a minimum set of services will be enough.

Having a VHI insurance card allows you to save money. Persons who own the policy are not required to pay huge amounts of money for qualified medical care, as was the case before. If VHI is available, the necessary services are provided in the same way as for ordinary citizens.

Pay attention to some features of the pole's action. This type of insurance has limitations regarding the provision of free medications. Pharmacological drugs for the treatment of AIDS or HIV are not given free of charge even if you have a coupon

Insurance price

According to the recommendations of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, the cost of a VHI policy intended for foreign citizens should range from 500 to 12 thousand rubles , with an average cost of 3,000 to 7,000 rubles , but no more.

The specific cost depends on:

• from an insurance company;
• networks of clinics;
• on the gender of the insured person, his age, state of health;
• the scope of his work activity, which implies the presence or absence of insurance risk in the work, the likelihood of occupational diseases;
• from the list of medical services included in the insurance product.

The table below shows the average cost of a VHI policy for foreign citizens living in the country:

Note. The cost is given for the city of Moscow.

And in conclusion, it should be noted that in conditions of active participation in the system of interstate and interethnic relations, much attention is paid to respecting the rights of foreign citizens, issues of their residence within the Federation, and comfortable work activities.

For these reasons, they are given the right to receive medical care in unforeseen cases assessed by the insurance company.

Find out what insurance products Soglasie company offers in the article: Consent. You can read reviews of the BIN Insurance company in this article.

The problems of motor vehicle insurance in Russia are discussed here.

Requirements for obtaining insurance

Regulatory legal acts specify a list of requirements that must be met to create a VHI insurance policy. These requirements include:

1. There is an age limit for receiving VHI. You can issue a coupon upon reaching the age of majority, starting from 18 years of age. The maximum age for receiving insurance papers is 75 years.
2. Minors also need to obtain VHI. Instead of children, documents are submitted by their representatives (parents, guardians or trustees).
3. The maximum length of stay on the territory of the state without voluntary health insurance (if there are valid reasons for this, confirmed by official documents) is 3 days. During this period, a citizen of another country undertakes to resolve all documentary issues regarding VHI.
4. If a VHI coupon is issued for long-term use, you must purchase a standard package of services. Liver services of this type are universal for both citizens of the Russian Federation and visitors. When applying for a coupon for a short period, you have the opportunity to choose; it is not necessary to purchase the entire package.
5. It is possible to issue an insurance card through a company that searches for work for such persons in our state. The validity period of the VHI in this case will correspond to the duration of work in this company.

Where can I apply?

The legislation provides for 2 types of filing papers, namely:

• collective;
• individual.

There are employers who help their foreign employees with paperwork to obtain insurance coupons. In such a situation, a person independently collects a package of necessary documents, and then passes it on to the company’s management. Collective registration of insurance coupons involves submitting several packages of papers at once in order to receive poles.

Individual registration of a pole for insurance involves the submission of documents personally by the policyholder. You can also order the production of a pole via the Internet. To complete this task, you can visit the insurance company’s Internet portal and provide the necessary information in the appropriate section.

Application and documents for registration

To obtain a health insurance card, foreigners must present a standard set of papers. The list of all documents for persons who have reached the age of majority includes:

1. Identity card (in the form of a passport of the state of which the person is a citizen). In situations where the information in the document is written in a foreign language, it is necessary to additionally provide a translation of the passport data, certified by a notary.
2. A hand-filled migration service card. Information is entered into the card at the moment a foreign citizen crosses the state border. If the card is lost, you can contact the migration service with a request to issue a duplicate.
3. Documented information regarding the citizen’s place of residence on the territory of the Russian Federation.
4. A receipt indicating the amount paid for issuing a VHI policy.

In addition to the specified documents, of course, it is necessary to provide an application. The document is written by hand indicating information regarding the voluntary desire to obtain a medical insurance policy. On behalf of the minor, the application is written by his legal representatives.

If a package of documents is submitted to obtain medical insurance for a minor, the following documents must be provided:

1. Birth certificate.
2. Information regarding the presence of chronic pathologies or other health problems. Data of this kind are indicated for the timely prevention or treatment of existing diseases.

Legal advice

When planning a trip to Russia, migrants should know the following rules:

1. When receiving an insurance policy, you must be provided with an insurance program and VHI rules intended for migrant workers.
2. The minimum insurance amount for VHI should be 100,000 rubles.
3. The minimum amount of insurance coverage is primary health care and emergency medical care.
4. The term of the insurance policy is established depending on the length of stay of the foreign citizen on the territory of the Russian Federation. For example, when applying for a work patent for a period of 1 year, an insurance policy is issued for the same period.
5. The policy will only be valid in the region where it was issued.

Before going to the insurance agency to apply for a medical insurance policy, be sure to take documents in the form of a passport, migration card and registration data indicating your place of registration.

Step-by-step registration instructions

Many people are interested in the question of how to apply for a VHI policy for foreign citizens? The algorithm is very simple, often it does not cause any difficulties.

To obtain a medical insurance policy, you must follow the following procedure:

• find a suitable insurance company that will represent your interests;
• notify the company in writing of your desire to cooperate;
• submit a standard package of documents for information processing;
• select the type of insurance policy. It depends on the goals and duration of stay in the state, health status, as well as personal preferences of the client;
• pay for an insurance policy at a bank or cash desk.

You can pick up the document from the insurance company within the time agreed in advance. Often, paperwork of this kind occurs very quickly.

VHI tariffs for citizens of Belarus in the Russian Federation in 2021

A voluntary health insurance policy for Belarusians is optional. However, at his own request, a migrant has the right to take out risk insurance on his own. The price will depend on the period during which possible disability problems are covered and the region in which the policy was purchased. In Moscow and St. Petersburg the following prices are offered:

• 3 months – from 500 to 800 rubles;
• 6 months – from 1,000 to 1,500 rubles;
• 9 months – from 1,600 to 1,800 rubles;
• 12 months – from 2,000 to 2,500 rubles.

The legislation does not limit the list of insurance companies from which a Belarusian employee must obtain insurance policies. He has the right to choose any organization at his discretion, based on the convenience of the office location and tariffs.

How much does the policy cost and what is the registration period?

Due to changes in current regulations in the field of insurance, it is very difficult to say the exact price of an insurance policy. Several factors influence the final cost of the document. The main criterion is the time spent within the state. The cost of an insurance policy for several days is significantly lower than the price of a coupon for a year.

Another important factor is the hospitals that insurance companies work with. Some institutions provide a standard package of services at a regular price, while others provide an elite service with an appropriate price. The insurance policy's pricing policy also depends on the client's health. If there is a history of chronic diseases that require systematic treatment, this will be reflected in the cost.

Regulatory acts provide recommendations, following which the cost of the coupon will be up to 12 thousand Russian rubles. As practice shows, the average price segment on the market ranges from 4-7 thousand. You can find more detailed information regarding the cost of insurance policies on the websites of specific insurance companies.

VHI for foreign citizens is issued very quickly. The maximum period for issuing documents is 2-3 days. Most companies issue a coupon on the day of submitting documents.

VHI policy for migrants and foreign citizens

The program includes medical outpatient care for women during pregnancy, in accordance with medical and economic standards. The program includes the following services:

1st trimester (5-13 weeks) 1. Consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist (number: 2) 2. clinical blood test (number: 1) 3. general urine test (number: 1) 4. Biochemical blood test: total protein, urea, creatinine, total bilirubin, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, iron, calcium. (quantity: 1) 5. Coagulogram: fibrinogen, prothrombin + INR, APTT, time. (number: 1) 6. Blood group, Rh factor (number: 1) 7. Serological diagnosis: syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and C (number: 1) 8. Hormonal examination: TSH (number: 1) 8. Hormonal examination: TSH (number: 1) -number: 1) 9. Analysis of feces for helminth eggs (number: 1) 10. Ultrasound screening of the 1st trimester at 11-13 weeks (number: 1) 11. Smear for flora, PCR for STIs: n.gonorrhea , trichomonas vag., chlamydia tr., mycoplasma gene., herpes, CMV, cytological examination of c/c and sh/m. (quantity: 1)

2nd trimester (14-28 weeks) 1. Consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist (number: 3) 2. clinical blood test (number: 1) 3. general urine test (number: 3) 4. Ultrasound of the fetus at 22-24 weeks (quantity: 1) 5. Consultations with specialists: therapist, ophthalmologist, ENT. (quantity: 1) 6. Electrocardiography (ECG) (quantity: 1)

3rd trimester (29-40 weeks) 1. Consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist (number: 4) 2. clinical blood test (number: 2) 3. general urine test (number: 4) 4. Biochemical blood test: total protein, urea, creatinine, uric acid, total bilirubin, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, electrolytes, glucose, iron, calcium. (quantity: 1) 5. Coagulogram: fibrinogen, prothrombin + INR, APTT, time. (quantity: 1) 6. Serological diagnosis: syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and C (quantity: 1) 7. Flora smear (quantity: 1) 8. Fetal ultrasound + Doppler at 31-33 weeks (quantity: 1)

During the service period, the following is carried out: - registration of certificates of incapacity for work according to indications by an obstetrician-gynecologist - registration of an exchange card (quantity: 1) - extracts from an outpatient card (quantity: 1)

EXCEPTIONS FROM THE MEDICAL SERVICE PROGRAM.

The program does not include the scope of services provided for medical reasons in accordance with medical and economic standards for acute illness, exacerbation of a chronic disease, infection, injury, poisoning and other conditions requiring medical care.

Who pays for VHI for a foreign citizen?

Financial obligations regarding the registration of an insurance policy are assigned directly to the person who needs to receive a coupon. In some situations, the employer pays for the insurance policy. This issue is regulated by the agreement signed by the parties earlier.

VHI policy for foreign citizens is paid depending on the situation, namely:

• independently, subject to a tourist visit;
• the employer, if he is involved in processing the employee’s documents.

Peculiarities of hiring temporarily staying foreigners

When hiring foreign citizens temporarily staying in the Russian Federation, the mandatory documents they must present during employment include a valid voluntary health insurance policy (Part 2 of Article 327.2, Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Article 327.3 of the Labor Code) .
The validity period of the voluntary health insurance policy submitted by a foreign citizen when concluding an employment contract must be no less than the validity period of the employment contract (letter of the Ministry of Labor dated September 26, 2016 No. 16-4/B-465).

Therefore, you have the right to refuse to hire a foreign citizen if he presents you with a VHI policy that has expired, and you do not intend to enter into an agreement to provide the foreigner with paid medical services.

However, you do not need this VHI policy if you enter into an agreement with a medical organization to provide paid medical services to such an employee. Its conditions must provide for the provision of primary health care and specialized emergency medical care to the employee.

Previously on the topic:

How to hire a foreigner

Foreign worker: what is important for an employer to know

Insurance for children of foreign citizens

Making a pole for a child is called a mandatory condition, if desired, legally located in the state. The pole is required in all preschool or school childcare settings. The minimum scope of medical services must include:

• outpatient examination;
• inpatient treatment in specialized departments;
• vaccination and receiving vaccinations;
• providing emergency assistance if necessary.

Insurance for pregnant women

VHI for pregnant foreign citizens (in addition to standard procedures) has an additional list. This includes:

• visiting a gynecologist as planned, examining specialized specialists, and monitoring them throughout pregnancy;
• research using laboratory facilities;
• fetal cardiography, ultrasound waves (planned studies, as well as urgent);
• courses for training expectant mothers;
• childbirth itself;
• supervision of specialists in the postpartum period.

Insurance for students

Students from other countries are no exception from the point of view of insurance legislation. VHI for foreign students is mandatory. The procedure for signing documents with the subsequent creation of an insurance policy for this category of citizens has some features. Before signing the agreement, you must check with the administration of the educational institution. Perhaps management entered into contracts with insurance companies. In such a situation, purchasing an insurance policy will be much cheaper for the student.