ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region will be included in Iraq’s national health insurance program by 2028, a senior health official told Rudaw on Monday, adding that the program, officially set to launch next year, is expected to provide coverage to all citizens by 2028. Ali Obaid, director-general of the Iraqi Health Insurance Authority, said the rollout is currently entering its fourth and final phase. The Health Insurance Law No. 22 of 2020 “came into effect at the end of 2023 and has gone through three phases,” he said. “We are now entering the fourth phase.” Under the program, the Iraqi Health Insurance Authority will cover 285 types of surgeries, 40 types of medical consultation services and all types of medical tests. The law mandates health insurance for government employees and foreign residents, funded by salary-based premiums and employer contributions. The program is managed by the Health Insurance Authority, which will contract with both public and private healthcare providers. Coverage will also include individuals registered with the Iraqi labor ministry of Labor, including employees, retirees and unemployed persons. Premiums will range from 10,000-100,000 Iraqi dinars (around $7.64 to $76.4) and will be free for low-income and unemployed individuals. According to Obaid, the implementation of the nationwide rollout has faced delays pending “the adaptation of the infrastructure for covered health insurance facilities.” Nonetheless, he confirmed that the health insurance plan is moving forward and “will extend the service to all other provinces of Iraq in 2026” as part of the fourth phase of implementation. As for the Kurdistan Region, Obaid noted that by 2028, “citizens across the Kurdistan Region’s provinces will also benefit from the national health insurance plan.”
