Kazakhstan to insure over 1 million unemployed by 2026

Government to fund health insurance for jobless citizens as parliament debates oversight of medical insurance fund

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Kazakhstan’s government has approved plans to extend compulsory health insurance coverage to more than one million unemployed and vulnerable citizens starting in 2026, in a major policy shift aimed at broadening access to medical care.

Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova announced that local and regional budgets will fund insurance contributions on behalf of those unable to pay. 

The change is designed to grant insured status—and access to scheduled medical services—to individuals regardless of income or employment.

The policy follows a directive issued by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in February 2024. 

According to The Times of Central Asia, the Ministry of Health has submitted draft legislation to the Mazhilis, the lower house of Parliament, enabling local governments to assume payment responsibilities for eligible groups.

Kazakhstan’s current system requires employed citizens to contribute 2% of their monthly salary—capped at 17,000 Kazakhstani tenge ($33)—to the Fund for Social Medical Insurance (FSMI). 

Employers contribute an additional 3%, while individual entrepreneurs pay 5% of their income. 

However, unemployed individuals remain outside the system.

“This is a step towards improving people’s health and quality of life,” Alnazarova said. 

“Local budgets will cover the contributions, and these individuals will receive insured status on a monthly basis.”

The ministry also proposed raising the maximum income limit used to calculate contributions—from 10 to 50 times the minimum monthly wage. 

In 2025, the minimum wage will be 85,000 Kazakhstani tenge (about $165), raising the cap to 4.25 million tenge (roughly $8,100). 

The adjustment would impact around 9% of the workforce—approximately 508,000 people—and their employers.

Alnazarova said the reform promotes fairness, noting that high-income earners currently contribute proportionally less than others. 

“In global practice, income limits are not applied,” she added.

The proposal has reignited concerns over the governance of the FSMI. 

During a recent parliamentary session, MP Murat Abenov criticized the fund for operating with little external oversight.

“The SMIF checks itself, allocates funds itself, concludes contracts itself, and determines violations itself,” Abenov said. 

“If not for the Supreme Audit Chamber, we wouldn’t even know that billions are being embezzled.”

His comments echoed earlier parliamentary criticism of a proposed 10% tax hike on medicines and healthcare services included in the draft Tax Code.