The Government established a new formula for updating prepaid medicine quotas. In this way, from February and for 18 months, the increase in the value of the same will have as a maximum limit 90% of the Average Taxable Remuneration Index of Stable Workers (Ripte). Before embarking on a trip to France, President Alberto Fernández signed with all his ministers decree 743/2022, published today in the Official Gazette, where the measure is formalized.
Likewise, it was established that prepaid companies must offer their users on a mandatory basis, as of January 1, 2023, “identical coverage plans to the one they currently have without copayments, with the inclusion of copayments on first and second level benefits, at a price of at least 25% lower than the plan without copayments.”
The decree states in its recitals that “it is necessary to establish regulatory criteria that regulate the economic activities carried out within the scope of private medicine, since, although they are established as relationships between private parties, due to their specific characteristics, their due provision is considered a right of consumers. ”
It also emphasizes that “it is the obligation of the State to implement policies that discourage inflationary inertia that affects the normal development of the activities of companies and citizens, especially the sectors of work and production that are trying to protect.” Regarding the increases, the measure establishes that as of February 1, 2023 and for a period of 18 months, the increase in the value of the prepaid installments, including those who access the service by derivation of their mandatory contributions from the Social Works system, will have as a maximum limit 90% of the Ripte index of the immediately previous month published. This will apply “with respect to contracting holders who have a net income of less than six minimum, vital and mobile wages,” the regulations clarify.
