The stampede of the prepaid: the increase in the July quota will be 8.49%

2023-05-31T12:11:18.360Z

Highlights: This is the highest monthly increase since the indexed system was implemented. For those who receive less than 6 SMVM, the January-July increase will be 42.7%. With the increase of 6.9% in January and the 6 increases with the new criterion, the accumulated increase in the first 7 months of the year will reach 52.8%, for whom the health cost index is applied. With the increases of June (5.49%) and July (8.49%), an average family plan of a couple with 2 minor children may be between $ 110,000 and $ 150,000 per month.

This is the highest monthly increase since the indexed system was implemented. This is how it emerges from the Cost Index of the Superintendence of Health Services.

While the bills are coming in with the 5.49% increase in private medicine fees in June, this Wednesday the affiliates will receive another notification: the July increase will be 8.49% for all equally.

This will be so because the Health Cost Index is less than 90% of the variation of formal salaries (RIPTE), which is the indicator used to set the increase in the quota of those who earn less, according to the Superintendence of Health Services.

Decree 743/2022 that set the differentiated increases (which debuted in February) establishes that 90% of the RIPTE acts as a ceiling for those who receive less than 6 Minimum Vital and Mobile Wages (SMVM) in relation to the Health Cost Index. Those who earn more than 6 SMVM are charged the increase in the Cost Index.

Thus, this ceiling was applied in February, March and May, because the Health Cost Index was 8.21%, 7.66% and 4.76% respectively, and those who earn the least were applied 4.91%, 5.04% and 3.43%.

In April and June this ceiling was not applied because the Health Cost Index was 5.49% and 90% of the RIPTE was 7.58%. And in July, it will not be applied either because the Health Problems Index is 8.49% and 90% of the RIPTE was 8.78%.

To make these calculations for the June increase, the March RIPTE is taken, which was 9.76%.

With the increase of 6.9% in January and the 6 increases with the new criterion, the accumulated increase in the first 7 months of the year will reach 52.8%, for whom the health cost index is applied. For those who receive less than 6 SMVM, the January-July increase will be 42.7%.

Those affiliated to the prepaid will begin to receive from this Wednesday the notification of the increase because they must do so 30 days in advance.

Income statement

Although the increase of 8.49% applies to all affiliates equally, the holders of the prepaid must also enter the page of the Superintendence of Health to declare if they have net income less or greater than 6 SMVM. ($507,072).

The Health Cost Index combines the evolution of the costs of medicines (12.2%) according to a list prepared by the Ministry of Health, medical supplies (17.2%), salaries set by the parity (52.4%) and general expenses (18.2%), prepared by the SSSalud.

For their part, prepaid medical entities and social works must increase the values of the medical-assistance benefits provided to the beneficiaries of prepaid and social works by clinics, sanatoriums and professionals by at least 90% of the percentage increase in their income according to the fees received.

Meanwhile, according to INDEC records, due to greater informality and increased costs of health plans, the population covered by social work or private medicine decreased.

With the increases of June (5.49%) and July (8.49%), an average family plan of a couple with 2 minor children may be between $ 110,000 and $ 150,000 per month.

It is estimated that the sector (the sum of prepaid plus Social Works of the Management Personnel) has 6 million beneficiaries (holder and family group) of which 20% are voluntary or "pure direct") and the rest corresponds to workers who derive their contributions to a social work that has an agreement with the prepaid.