New medical insurance policies to be issued in RF beginning May 1

MOSCOW, May 1 (Itar-Tass) -- Beginning this Sunday, new models of
compulsory medical insurance policies will be issued all over Russia.
However, the old policies remain valid and may not be replaced until 2014,
a federal medical insurance fund source told Itar-Tass.
"From January 1, 2011, a new federal law on medical insurance in
Russia came into force, according to which, new regulations to issue
medical policies are introduced from May 1, 2011," the official said,
stressing that "all policies issued before May 1, 2011, are valid and do
not require replacement before universal electronic cards are introduced,
which will be issued during 2012-2013."
Nevertheless, from this Sunday, a single medical insurance policy
model will be used all over the Russian Federation. Citizens who for the
first time receive such a document must apply to the medical insurance
company they have chosen. First, the citizen receives a "temporary
certificate" which will be valid for 30 working days. During the time, the
personal policy will be made for the citizen. As soon as the document is
ready, the insured person will be notified, and the "temporary
certificate" will be replaced with the policy.
The new single-model compulsory medical insurance policies will not
need being replaced when the person is discharged from work, changes the
job or moves to another place of residence. The replacement of old
policies with new ones will be made gradually. Medical insurance fund
officials emphasize that there is no need to immediately change the old
policies for new ones. The replacement will be made gradually for all
citizens of the Russian Federation during the 2011-2013 period.