Montenegro has recently made significant changes to its health insurance policies for foreigners, impacting citizens from specific countries. Due to adjustments in bilateral social security agreements and restrictions linked to certain nations, foreigners residing in Montenegro are facing limitations on their ability to access insured status.
Changes in Foreign Health Insurance Status
Currently, 33,290 foreigners residing in Montenegro hold insured status, granting them the same healthcare benefits as Montenegrin citizens. This coverage is largely due to the bilateral social security agreements Montenegro has signed with various countries. These agreements ensure that citizens of the following countries enjoy equal rights when it comes to health insurance:
- Serbia (12,292 individuals)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (4,179 individuals)
- Albania (1,316 individuals)
- Croatia (931 individuals)
- Ukraine (820 individuals)
- Germany (561 individuals)
- Turkey (551 individuals)
- North Macedonia (547 individuals)
- Slovenia (199 individuals)
These agreements cover the right to healthcare, the ability to access services in foreign countries, and the reimbursement of healthcare expenses. Consequently, people from these countries are treated equally to Montenegrin citizens in terms of health insurance.
Exemptions: Russia and Kosovo
However, a recent development has excluded certain foreign nationals from this status. Citizens of the Russian Federation and Kosovo have lost their right to acquire insured status in Montenegro. According to the Health Insurance Fund, the legislation in these countries does not allow their citizens to waive their home insurance or relinquish the right to healthcare benefits in their home country.
Due to this legal stipulation, the Health Insurance Fund of Montenegro has confirmed that Russian and Kosovo citizens can no longer register for health insurance benefits in Montenegro. As a result, they will be deregistered from the health insurance registry, significantly reducing the total number of insured foreigners.
Unanswered Questions: Foreign Education Statistics
A secondary issue has arisen regarding the education of foreign nationals in Montenegro. Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation, Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, has not responded to questions from local news outlet “Vijesti” regarding the number of foreign children attending schools in Montenegro. There is no official record of how many children from foreign nations are enrolled in Montenegrin kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools. This lack of transparency further complicates the data on the full extent of foreign nationals benefiting from state services.
Conclusion
Montenegro’s health insurance system for foreigners is undergoing changes, with certain citizens losing access due to international legal restrictions. While many foreign nationals from countries with existing agreements continue to receive equal health coverage, citizens from Russia and Kosovo are now excluded. As Montenegro navigates these international complexities, additional clarity on foreign nationals’ educational statistics and their full integration into the country’s systems would further illuminate the broader impact of these changes.
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