70 percent of prepaid medicine users in Argentina are considering making changes to their current health coverage due to the significant increase in services in recent months. According to a study by consulting firm D’Alessio Irol, 26 percent of users are thinking about abandoning their current provider to seek other private coverage, while 10 percent are considering relying exclusively on the public health system. The survey, which included responses from 1,240 individuals over 18 years old from across the country, revealed that the impact of price increases is felt across all levels of middle income, prompting many to seek alternative options.
Notably, 58 percent of those surveyed plan to make changes with their prepaid medicine company. Young people under 34 years of age are particularly inclined to change their current prepaid or social work. In response to this trend, the report identified that 16 percent of users will look for the same plan in another prepaid, 14 percent will maintain their current prepaid but switch to a lower-priced plan, and 10 percent will seek out the minimum plan in another prepaid. Additionally, 10 percent are considering abandoning prepaid medicine completely, and 5 percent will stay with the minimum plan but maintain their current prepaid plan.
After the entry into force of the DNU prepared by the President that released the price freeze, prepaid medicine companies reported increases of 40 percent in January and anticipate another increase of between 27 percent and 29 percent on average in February. Although the court ruled in favor of individual members due to the price increase, deregulation remains in force.
According to MiObraSocial, the average price of a prepaid medicine plan in Argentina ranges between 40,000 pesos and 60,000 pesos per month per person. Newer, cheaper options start at approximately 25,000 pesos per month, either in “low-cost” prepaid plans or plans with co-payments. However, even with these lower-priced options, the cost of prepaid medicine remains a significant financial burden for many users.
In summary, it is clear that the current pricing and cost structure of the prepaid medicine system in Argentina is putting financial strain on a significant portion of the population, especially those from lower-middle socioeconomic segments. As a result, many users are actively considering different health coverage options in an effort to address these concerns.