Prepaid companies have been authorized to increase fees by 3.5% since March

Ismael Bermúdez

01/30/2021 7:33 AM

• Clarín.com

• Economy

Updated 01/30/2021 7:33 AM

After several comings and goings, this Saturday, through Resolution No. 531/21 published in the Official Gazette, the Ministry of Health

authorized a 3.5% increase in membership fees from March 1 of prepaid medicine

.

At the same time, prepayments must also increase by 3.5%

the amounts they pay to doctors, professionals and clinics

for the medical-assistance benefits they provide to their members and families.

The previous 10% increase

was applied in December

.

Originally by Resolution of the Ministry of Health, this increase should have been 15% and another 10% as of February.

But then the President ordered the annulment of that Resolution and only 10% was authorized since December.

This short circuit was repeated the following month because Health reauthorized from February an increase from 7% cumulative to 10% in December and again by presidential decision it was annulled by the impact of the quota increases on members and their impact on the index. inflation.

All this

opened a strong discussion

in the Government and in the sector, accentuated by the transcendent in favor of a reform of the health system promoted by sectors related to Vice President Cristina Kirchner.

Meanwhile, the Government decided to assist the prepaid and the Health Sector

with various measures

.

For this reason, in the fundamentals, the Ministerial Resolution says that it is authorized to increase the value of the fees due to the increase in the costs of the sector "without prejudice to the exceptional financial assistance granted to Health Insurance Agents and increases in value of quota authorized to the Entities of Prepaid Medicine ”.

This is in reference to the exemption granted to the Health sector until March 31 from the payment of employer contributions to Social Security plus the inclusion in the REPRO II Health program for which it is granted - after compliance with the requirements and conditions of the program - a monthly sum of up to $ 9,000 to the workers of the companies adhering to the program.

The reduction of the tax rates on bank credits and debits was also extended for 90 days.

Now, Health authorizes this increase of 3.5% on the end of the month for prepaid entities to

report the increase in fees 30 days in advance

as set by the system rules.