There are two systems of medical insurance in the Russian Federation: compulsory (OMI) and voluntary (VMI). All Russian citizens and some categories of foreigners (students are not included in this category) receive medical care under the OMS policy. Expenses for medical services under the MHI policy are paid from the budget of the Russian Federation. In case of voluntary insurance, the patient's treatment is paid for by insurance companies.

Voluntary medical insurance (VMI) is a type of personal insurance that allows the insured to receive medical care in medical and preventive institutions. VMI programs for foreign students provide protection against risks associated with threats to life and health throughout their stay in the Russian Federation.

A VMI card allows you to apply to a medical institution in Russia and receive qualified free medical care.

A VMI card provides free medical services prescribed by the Russian law: emergency medical care, outpatient and inpatient care, hospitalization, medical transportation. At the same time, the volume of medical care services provided depends directly on the program of a foreign citizen's VMI card, in particular, on the amount specified in it, for which the person is insured.

According to the legislation, medical cards for foreign citizens must be issued on the first day of their stay in the Russian Federation - the day they enter the territory of the Russian Federation.

International students can purchase a VMI card from representatives of insurance companies recommended by BSU.

Detailed information on how and where to purchase a VMI card, as well as get acquainted with the recommended VMI programs can be found in the International Relations Department.

Foreign citizens with VMI are not served in district polyclinics. In case of an insured event, it is necessary to contact the phone number of the insurance company indicated in the policy and clarify the specific medical institutions that a foreign citizen can visit to provide medical care under the voluntary health insurance contract.

No! According to the law of the Russian Federation, every foreign citizen staying on the territory of the Russian Federation is obliged to have a valid VMI card for the entire period of stay, regardless of the terms and purposes of stay.

For students and teachers, the usual travel medical insurance bought in the home country will not work. As a rule, under such a policy, the patient first pays for treatment himself, and only after returning home reimburses the spent funds from the insurance company. In addition, travel insurance covers a very small part of medical services.

Registration of a medical policy for a foreign citizen requires a minimum package of documents:

• Passport of a foreign citizen;
• Notification of migration registration or registration at the place of residence.

As of May 1, 2016, a fine was introduced for the absence of a VMI card for foreigners.

Absence of a VMI card valid in Russia is an administrative offense and a violation of the rules of entry into the Russian Federation.

If a foreign citizen is found not to have a VMI card for foreign citizens during a document check, he or she will be issued a fine:

• for the first offense - in the amount from 2,000 rubles to 5,000;
• repeated offense within 1 year - a fine from 5,000 rubles to 7,000 rubles.

And this, in turn, may entail the imposition of a ban on entry into the Russian Federation (deportation), if a foreigner commits 2 or more administrative offenses in 1 year in accordance with Article 18 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Russian Federation.