Compulsory medical insurance system in 2026: what can you get for free now?
In 2026, the system of compulsory medical insurance will undergo changes: the list of free services will be expanded, the rules of medical examination will be updated, and new types of diagnostics and therapies available under the policy will appear. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
What changes will be introduced in the compulsory health insurance system in 2026
Starting in 2026, a number of innovations aimed at expanding the availability of medical care and improving the effectiveness of diagnostics will come into force in the compulsory medical insurance system.
The updates affect the procedure for medical examinations, the list of free studies, the rules for the provision of high-tech care, as well as patient routing mechanisms.
The changes are related to the adjustment of the basic program of state guarantees and the updating of clinical guidelines that determine the scope and conditions of medical care.
As Olga Borisova, Associate Professor of the Department of Corporate Finance and Corporate Governance at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, explained in an interview with Izvestia, the expansion of the list of services is primarily aimed at early detection of cardiovascular, oncological and other socially significant diseases. According to the expert, the measures will "increase the coverage of the population with high-quality preventive care and reduce the burden on hospitals due to timely diagnosis.
New free services under the compulsory medical insurance policy
Starting in 2026, citizens will be able to receive an expanded range of free services under the compulsory medical insurance policy, including additional types of laboratory tests, instrumental diagnostics and therapy. The changes relate to both primary care and specialized care.
Borisova notes that starting from March 1, 2026, patients will be able to receive therapy using new drugs available under compulsory medical insurance. Among them are gabalentin and baclofen, which are used in the treatment of neurological and a number of chronic diseases. This will significantly improve the quality of life of patients and make treatment more accessible.
In addition to drug therapy, the list of interventions related to high-tech care is also expanding. According to the new rules, photodynamic therapy for bladder cancer, free conjunctival flap autoplasty and laparoscopic gastric surgery will be available for free. A wider range of physical therapy methods and monitoring of patients with chronic diseases will also become available.
The expert emphasizes that the awareness of the population about the list of services is gradually increasing. The specific set of free procedures depends on the region and is available on the websites of the territorial CHI funds.
Extended medical examination and additional types of diagnostics
In 2026, the list of preventive studies that are included in the adult medical examination program is being updated. New screening techniques aimed at early detection of diseases are being introduced.
According to Borisova, citizens will be able to undergo additional tests and examinations as part of a medical examination. Among them are HIV testing, as well as liquid cytology of the cervix for women of reproductive age, which meets current international standards for the early diagnosis of cancer.
Additionally, pilot programs for screening risk factors for diabetes, respiratory diseases, and metabolic disorders are being introduced in a number of regions.
At the same time, the list of documents regulating preventive work is expanding. The Ministry of Health is updating clinical guidelines, including standards for follow-up, which makes it possible to unify the approach to screening in different regions. In addition, the role of primary care is being strengthened — general practitioners will have access to more diagnostic options, including digital services for assessing risk factors.
How to get help
Patient routing in 2026 will be based on current rules, but a number of mechanisms will become more transparent due to digitalization. Referrals for tests, consultations, and hospitalization will be made primarily electronically, which should reduce waiting times and the number of duplicate examinations.
The allocation of quotas for high-tech care will remain the same, but control over the movement of patients within the system will be simplified thanks to the use of a Single digital Circuit. This will allow you to track the stages of treatment and generate more accurate forecasts of the workload of medical institutions.
The waiting time for assistance remains unchanged, but may vary depending on the region.
According to the expert, the standards are fixed in the state guarantee program: specialized care is provided for up to 14 days, consultations and diagnostic tests for up to seven days, planned hospitalization for up to 30 days, and emergency care is provided within two hours.
"These time limits make it possible to maintain the availability of medical care, however, deviations are possible in the regions depending on the workload of institutions," the expert said.
The expansion of the list of free services and the introduction of new diagnostic techniques are aimed at improving the effectiveness of the compulsory health insurance system. In the coming years, further development of digital services is expected, allowing citizens to track prescribed procedures, referral status and the time frame for receiving assistance.
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