Aasandha to introduce 15% co-payment for high-income earners from January

The government has announced that individuals earning more than MVR 60,000 per month will be required to pay 15 per cent of the cost of healthcare services obtained from private providers under the Aasandha national health insurance scheme, effective January 2027.

The Ministry of Health announced the decision in a notice published in the Government Gazette on Saturday night.

The measure follows a Cabinet decision in September to introduce a co-payment system for high-income earners receiving healthcare services under Aasandha.

According to the ministry, individuals with a monthly income exceeding MVR 60,000 will be required to contribute 15 per cent of the cost of services obtained from private healthcare facilities in the Maldives.

The requirement will not apply to healthcare services provided at government-operated facilities.

The Health Ministry confirmed that the co-payment requirement will take effect in January 2027.

Under the arrangement, eligible individuals seeking treatment at private healthcare facilities will be required to pay 15 per cent of the service cost, with the remaining amount covered under Aasandha in accordance with the scheme's existing arrangements.

However, patients referred abroad for medical treatment under Aasandha will continue to receive services without additional charges, in accordance with existing procedures.

The ministry said the new co-payment requirement would not affect the arrangements currently in place for patients who need overseas medical treatment.

The ministry's announcement also identifies several professional categories that will be exempt from the co-payment requirement.

These include doctors, medical professionals working in technical roles, pilots, aviation technical personnel, engineers and technical professionals working in scientific fields.

Individuals falling within these categories will not be required to pay the 15 per cent co-payment, even if their monthly income exceeds MVR 60,000.

The government has previously stated that introducing the co-payment system for high-income earners is expected to generate annual savings of MVR 287 million.

The measure forms part of changes to Aasandha aimed at reducing government expenditure on healthcare while maintaining access to medical services.

The new arrangement will apply to eligible individuals receiving treatment at private healthcare facilities from January 2027, while treatment at government facilities and overseas referrals under Aasandha will remain exempt from the co-payment requirement.