There are two ways of medical insurance in Russia - voluntary & obligatory. Obligatory medical insurance is part of the free medical care program. Each citizen of St. Petersburg can get a free medical policy from the District Policlinic, which will guarantee free emergency hospitalization and outpatient medical care in this Policlinic.
Voluntary medical insurance is for those who would like to get diagnosis & treatment on a higher level. It is not free, and prices vary according to the services included in the medical policy.
Many companies provide medical insurance for travelers. Some countries, including Austria, Germany, Israel, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, France and South African Republic require that Russian citizens visiting these countries have a medical insurance policy for the whole period of their stay.
Some reputable companies provide medical insurance to foreign tourists and businessmen that is comparable to Western standards. The American Consulate recommends that you carry medical evacuation insurance or have a credit card available with a minimum clear credit line of $5,000.