Intermediation in Healthcare System Contributions Eliminated

On January 30, 2025, the Ministry of Health (MoH) issued Regulation 1/2025, published the next day in the Official Gazette. This regulation eliminates the triangulation in the allocation of contributions from employees, establishing the direct transfer of these funds to the health entities contracted by the beneficiaries.

This measure is part of a system-restructuring promoted by the MoH. The main objective is to foster a more efficient allocation of resources, generating savings for beneficiaries, and ensure transparency in the use of social security funds.

Until now, employees who opted for private healthcare insurance were required to transfer a portion of their contributions to a public healthcare insurance provider that acted as an intermediary and withheld a commission. The new regulation ends this intermediary role, and establishes that the contributions from employees, the Special Social Security Regime for Domestic Service Employees, and the contributions of beneficiaries enrolled in the Simplified Regime for Small Taxpayers be directly transferred to the entities contracted by the beneficiaries.

Only entities duly registered in the National Registry of Healthcare Insurance Agents (RNAS) may receive these funds. This provision ensures that the funds are directed straight to the entities managing healthcare plans.

The regulation guarantees that beneficiaries will retain their rights with the contracted entities, without any contractual modifications or restrictions on access to medical services. Furthermore, the Superintendence of Health Services must develop tools to ensure the direct allocation of funds.

Beneficiaries may express their decision to remain affiliated with their current public healthcare insurance provider through the “Voluntad de Permanencia en Obra Social” (Decision to Remain in Public Healthcare Insurance Provider) procedure, available on the TAD system. This procedure will be available until April 1, 2025.

Meanwhile, the Argentine Tax Authority (ARCA) will implement measures to ensure the traceability, security, and transparency of the funds involved.