TEHRAN –The National Organization for Migration, and Salamat Health Insurance Organization have signed a memorandum of understanding to provide health insurance services for legal foreign nationals.

Referring to the health services provided for refugees, Abdollah Mobini, the head of the National Organization for Migration, said that international organizations should shoulder their responsibility and support Iran with the heavy costs [related to refugees], IRNA reported.

“Our most important concern is the transmission of diseases and other health problems by foreign nationals, and that’s why we consider ourselves obliged to promote the health of refugees,” he added.

The memorandum of understanding takes a big step in improving the health of both host and guest communities. It prevents the heavy costs of prevention, treatment, and healthcare, he noted.

Mohammad-Mehdi Nasehi, the managing director of Salamat Health Insurance Organization, emphasized that providing insurance coverage for foreign nationals is a priority in the country's health system.

He added that it helps both refugees and the country with the heavy costs of treatment and prevention, respectively.

Free health coverage for 200,000 refugees

With over 3.4 million refugees and refugee-like populations, Iran has become the second-largest refugee-hosting country globally.

About 200,000 foreign nationals in the country have been provided with free health insurance with the financial support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Nasehi said in February.

Foreign nationals who are considered financially struggling can benefit from free health insurance services, Mehr news agency quoted Nasehi as saying.

Stating that the number of refugees in the country is far more than the number of people who have been covered by free insurance, he added that legal refugees can enjoy insurance services by paying their insurance premiums.

Free health insurance for hard-to-cure diseases

In November 2023, Jamshid Shayanfar, an official with Salamat Health Insurance Organization said some 95,000 foreign nationals who hold legal residence permits and are suffering from hard-to-cure diseases receive free health insurance annually.

Their insurance contract will be renewed every year in the month of Esfand – the last Iranian calendar month ending on March 20, Fars quoted Shayanfar as saying.

He added, “The insurance premiums for these people are covered by the High Commissioner for Refugees, and the insurance premiums for about 60,000 citizens are paid to the health insurance organization based on the government budget.”

Shayanfar went on to say that around 800,000 non-vulnerable nationals also have to pay their insurance premiums; once they pay the insurance premium, they will enjoy health insurance services for a year.

Some 12,000 non-vulnerable nationals have already been covered by health insurance, he concluded.

Insurance services for foreign nationals

Foreign nationals in Iran have citizenship rights and are subject to many protections, and one of the services provided to them is insurance.

In recent years, the number of insured foreign nationals has increased by 15 percent. Most of the insured are nationals of Afghanistan and China.

The long-term protections granted to insured persons include the retirement pension and the work-related disability pension.

Paying compensation for sick days, paying compensation for pregnancy, paying disability compensation, and paying allowances are among other insurance services.

Foreign nationals who work in Iranian sports clubs as head coaches, trainers, assistant coaches, athletes, players, etc., are subject to compulsory insurance.

Also, foreign journalists in Iran can be covered by social security services without obtaining a work permit by submitting a confirmation from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

According to the law, people who have worked in hard and harmful jobs for at least 20 consecutive years and 25 alternate years can apply for a pension without an age requirement.

Male insured with at least 60 years of age and 10 years of insurance premium payment, or at least 50 years of age and 30 years of insurance premium payment, and female insured with at least 55 years of age and 10 years of insurance premium payment, or at least 45 years of age and 30 years of insurance premium payment can apply for a pension.

Up to 2,188 foreign nationals residing in Iran are currently receiving pensions from social security funds, ISNA reported.

MT/MG