Photo: duma.gov.ru
On November 20, Russia’s State Duma passed a law stipulating that mandatory health insurance (OMS) policies will be issued only to labor migrants who have accumulated at least five years of work experience in the country, the parliament’s press service reported.
“To access free medical care in our country, foreign nationals must now have worked legally in Russia for a minimum of five years. The only exception is emergency care. Those who come to work here and want to rely on high-standard social guarantees must confirm that right through honest, lawful work,” said Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma.
The OMS (Mandatory Health Insurance) policy is a document that entitles its holder to free medical care under the national social program. Under current rules, migrants are eligible for an OMS policy after at least three years of employment in Russia.
The explanatory note to the bill states that the five-year requirement will apply to foreign nationals and stateless persons who are temporarily staying and working in Russia, with the exception of highly qualified specialists, as well as foreign employees assigned to work at branches, representative offices, or subsidiaries of foreign companies located in Russia and registered in WTO member states.
The law will take effect once signed by the president.
