What DMS is
DMS (voluntary medical insurance) is a policy under which the insurer arranges and pays for medical care at clinics on its list. Unlike accident insurance, no money is paid to you: the insurer pays the clinic directly for services within the programme.
DMS does not replace OMS. Compulsory medical insurance under Federal Law No. 326-FZ guarantees free care within the state programme, while DMS lets you be treated at chosen clinics, see specialists faster and get services that are not in the OMS programme or are hard to get quickly.
What a programme can include
- Outpatient care: doctor appointments, tests, diagnostics (ultrasound, MRI, CT), procedures.
- Home care and doctor home visits.
- Ambulance — often a private service in addition to the state one.
- Hospital care: emergency and planned admission.
- Dentistry: treatment, sometimes prevention and hygiene.
- Telemedicine: online doctor consultations.
- Prevention: check-ups, vaccinations.
Narrow programmes are also common: DMS for children, pregnancy care, tick-bite insurance, online-consultation-only plans and emergency hospital plans.
Who needs it
DMS is chosen by people who want to see a doctor quickly at a convenient time, parents of young children, people who use diagnostics often, and freelancers and entrepreneurs without a corporate policy. If your employer provides DMS, you can add a personal plan for children or relatives. Companies have a separate type — DMS for employees.
Laws and tax deduction
DMS is voluntary; the contract is concluded under Chapter 48 of the Russian Civil Code and the policy wording, and the insurer must hold a Bank of Russia licence for voluntary medical insurance. The contract can be cancelled within 14 calendar days under Bank of Russia Directive No. 3854-U if there have been no insured events.
Under Article 219 of the Russian Tax Code, DMS premiums can be included in the social tax deduction for medical treatment — for yourself, your spouse, parents and children under 24 in full-time education. Conditions: the insurer is licensed and the contract covers only medical services. Since 2024 the overall limit for most social deductions is RUB 150,000 a year; you can recover part of the personal income tax paid on that amount. You need the contract, payment documents and the insurer's licence details.
What drives the price
- the set of services and level of clinics: a premium clinic network costs noticeably more;
- city and district of service;
- age of the insured person: plans for children and older people cost more;
- health: with chronic conditions the insurer may limit the programme or raise the price;
- a deductible or co-payment: if you pay part of each visit, the policy is cheaper;
- number of people insured: family plans can be better value.
The DMS calculator gives an indicative cost.
How to choose a programme and insurer
- Look at the list of clinics: good clinics should be near your home or work.
- Check what the programme includes and its limits — number of appointments, types of diagnostics, planned hospital care.
- Study the exclusions: usually chronic conditions in an acute phase, cancer, psychiatry, aesthetic medicine, HIV — the list depends on the wording.
- Find out how to book a doctor: through the insurer's medical desk, an app or directly with the clinic.
- Compare companies in the directory of insurers.
How to use the policy
- Contact the insurer's medical desk or app: they will confirm the service and book a doctor.
- Come to the clinic with your policy and passport.
- If a service is not in the programme, the clinic will tell you the price — you can pay for it yourself.
- In a dispute, write to the insurer; for disputes up to RUB 500,000 you must apply to the Financial Ombudsman before going to court.
More in the Insurance claim section.
Common mistakes
- Choosing on price without looking at the clinics. A cheap policy may include only clinics that are inconvenient for you.
- Expecting treatment of chronic conditions. Most programmes do not cover them or cover them only partly.
- Hiding diagnoses in the questionnaire. This can lead to refusal.
- Not claiming the tax deduction. Part of the income tax paid can be recovered.
If you are worried about large costs of treating serious illness, see critical illness insurance.
