Medical Expenses

[Alby]

I received an email from my provider in May wishing me a happy birthday, another a few minutes later advising of the normal 2ish% monthly premium increase and then, when I scrolled to the bottom, the new amount, which was not 2ish% but instead 70% higher. They do this when you complete a birthday ending in 0 or 5. (I'm not sure why your increase happened after a birthday ending in 4). I queried it with the provider, but there was no scope for negotiation. Indeed, they told me that even dropping down to the next lesser plan would barely change the premium. My (paid) AI told me the new rate was similar to that which the competitors would charge me. My AI tells me that once we have held our policies for 10 years, the provider can no longer hit us up with these massive age-related increases. So hang in there for another five years.

 

[redlobster]

My (paid) AI told me the new rate was similar to that which the competitors would charge me. My AI tells me that once we have held our policies for 10 years, the provider can no longer hit us up with these massive age-related increases. So hang in there for another five years.

No matter how impressed I am that you pay $20 a month for your ChatGPT subscription, I find it hard to imagine that any health insurer would actually stop increasing premiums after 10 years, even if your AI says so.

I do remember hearing something like that a long time ago, back during Cristina's presidency. But so much has changed since then that I'd be surprised if that law even still existed, let alone was applied in practice.

 

[Alby]

I didn't say the premium would stop increasing; I said the machine said the "massive age-related" element of the increase would stop. That's because the machine said: "After 65, the cuota can still rise through the insurer’s general price increases affecting the membership or plan. It simply cannot receive a separate age-related surcharge. The official guidance expresses the threshold as 10 or more continuous years with the same entity, although the original statutory wording says “more than ten years”; the government’s current public guidance uses 10 or more."

The machine pointed to article 12 of Law 26.682 (Medicina prepaga) https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/180000-184999/182180/texact.htm

ARTICULO 12. — Personas Mayores de 65 Años. En el caso de las personas mayores de sesenta y cinco (65) años, la Autoridad de Aplicación debe definir los porcentajes de aumento de costos según riesgo para los distintos rangos etarios.
A los usuarios mayores a sesenta y cinco (65) años que tengan una antigüedad mayor a diez (10) años en uno de los sujetos comprendidos en el artículo 1º de la presente ley, no se les puede aplicar el aumento en razón de su edad.

Whether the providers find a way around that wording, and whether that provision survives another five years of deregulation, I'll find out then, I suppose.​

 

[Alby]

I turned 64 in July. I’ve had Swiss medical for 5 years. Because of my age (birthday July ) they are increasing my monthly premium from about 700,000 pesos (July ) to 900,000 pesos in August. This seems really outrageous. Is this normal ? I do have a DNI if that matters.

Resolución-2407-2023 is an implementing regulation of the law: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/resolución-2407-2023-393961/texto

The machine's explanation of this resolution was as follows:

The operative provisions are Articles 1 to 8. Each serves a different purpose:

• Article 1 – Confirms that prepagas may establish age bands (franjas etarias) within a plan, provided they fully disclose them at the time of contracting.
• Article 2 – Says there is no limit on the number of age bands an insurer may create, provided it complies with the 3:1 ratio in Article 17 of the Law.
• Article 3 – Provides that when an affiliate moves into a new age band, the insurer may apply the premium for that band only if the increase or percentage was properly disclosed when the contract was entered into. During the contract, the values for each band may otherwise only change through the general increases authorized under Article 17 of the Law.
• Article 5 – Implements the protection in Article 12 of the Law: members over 65 with more than 10 years' continuous membership receive the statutory protection against age-based increases.
• Article 6 – Applies to people over 65 with less than 10 years' seniority. It creates the actuarial matrix limiting the maximum age-based increases that may be applied at 65–69, 70–74 and 75+.
• Article 7 – Explains how to calculate those increases. Importantly, it fixes the relevant seniority as the member's seniority when they turn 65, not later.
• Article 8 – Caps the result: even after applying the matrix, the premium cannot exceed what a new entrant of the same age would pay for the same plan.

 

[Paige55]

I didn't say the premium would stop increasing; I said the machine said the "massive age-related" element of the increase would stop. That's because the machine said: "After 65, the cuota can still rise through the insurer’s general price increases affecting the membership or plan. It simply cannot receive a separate age-related surcharge. The official guidance expresses the threshold as 10 or more continuous years with the same entity, although the original statutory wording says “more than ten years”; the government’s current public guidance uses 10 or more."

The machine pointed to article 12 of Law 26.682 (Medicina prepaga) https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/180000-184999/182180/texact.htm

ARTICULO 12. — Personas Mayores de 65 Años. En el caso de las personas mayores de sesenta y cinco (65) años, la Autoridad de Aplicación debe definir los porcentajes de aumento de costos según riesgo para los distintos rangos etarios.
A los usuarios mayores a sesenta y cinco (65) años que tengan una antigüedad mayor a diez (10) años en uno de los sujetos comprendidos en el artículo 1º de la presente ley, no se les puede aplicar el aumento en razón de su edad.

Whether the providers find a way around that wording, and whether that provision survives another five years of deregulation, I'll find out then, I suppose.​

I have a few more 'age related' increases to my name, I suppose. I just hit 45 and for the first time in my 14 years with hospital Aleman, they increased my monthly fee by about $100USD on account of I'm 'old' now. So, well...I can barely afford it and wasn't warned it would increase that much...though I'm sure when I signed up in 2014 there was fine print (they also sent me a little 'happy birthday' email one day beforehand). I also remember having a longevity discount on my plan that deducted a percentage each month since I'd been with them so long, that doesn't seem to exist now.

Guess I'll just make sure to use the plan more, since they're charging me like I'm going to. I'll be making appointments every damn week to do as much preventative screening as possible. Two can play at this game. Or, realistically...eventually I'll just have to switch over to the public system, already overwhelmed with folks who've left their private plans for this same reason.

 

[Caribbean Cool]

I have a few more 'age related' increases to my name, I suppose. I just hit 45 and for the first time in my 14 years with hospital Aleman, they increased my monthly fee by about $100USD on account of I'm 'old' now. So, well...I can barely afford it and wasn't warned it would increase that much...though I'm sure when I signed up in 2014 there was fine print (they also sent me a little 'happy birthday' email one day beforehand). I also remember having a longevity discount on my plan that deducted a percentage each month since I'd been with them so long, that doesn't seem to exist now.

Guess I'll just make sure to use the plan more, since they're charging me like I'm going to. I'll be making appointments every damn week to do as much preventative screening as possible. Two can play at this game. Or, realistically...eventually I'll just have to switch over to the public system, already overwhelmed with folks who've left their private plans for this same reason.

Oh to pay what you are paying! You had better make a long term plan, an expectation, of paying double what you are paying now. Or more. Age is after you, inflation is after you, government downsizing is after you. And worse, the more you worry about it the worse your health will be. This is not a pretty picture, I know. The quality of life ain't what it used to be.

 

[Xavito]

I’ll be living in Argentina but will also be traveling occasionally to neighboring countries.
Would it be better to purchase an annual international health insurance plan before moving, or wait until I arrive in Argentina and sign up for a local prepaga?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any insurance companies or health plans you’ve been happy with.
Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

[Caribbean Cool]

I’ll be living in Argentina but will also be traveling occasionally to neighboring countries.
Would it be better to purchase an annual international health insurance plan before moving, or wait until I arrive in Argentina and sign up for a local prepaga?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any insurance companies or health plans you’ve been happy with.
Does anyone have any recommendations?

You have lots of homework ahead of you. In this class you have to do the homework on your own......no cheating!

 

[Paige55]

I’ll be living in Argentina but will also be traveling occasionally to neighboring countries.
Would it be better to purchase an annual international health insurance plan before moving, or wait until I arrive in Argentina and sign up for a local prepaga?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any insurance companies or health plans you’ve been happy with.
Does anyone have any recommendations?

I am with hospital aleman in the Recoleta area. The prices are getting quite high, but I've been very happy with my doctors and care there. If you're traveling a lot, however, it might be better to purchase the international plan that would cover you anyplace you might be until you settle in and can perhaps go to these places in person and see how they feel for you. I think if you search in the search bar on this page you'll find others talking about their specific plans. I have a lower-end plan from hospital aleman, it covers a lot and there is a plan below mine but that plan requires co-pays and out of pocket costs that the other plans don't make you pay. I've been with them 12 years now and the only thing that has changed is that they've acquired updated equipment and refurbished much of the hospital, but the wait times to get appointments can be a bit long if you're looking at certain specialty and I hear the emergency department is also a hassle with long wait times. You can also look to Google Maps and see reviews of the hospitals here, which might help even more as there will be more feedback. Good luck in your quest.

 

[Macanudo]

I’ll be living in Argentina but will also be traveling occasionally to neighboring countries.
Would it be better to purchase an annual international health insurance plan before moving, or wait until I arrive in Argentina and sign up for a local prepaga?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any insurance companies or health plans you’ve been happy with.
Does anyone have any recommendations?

If you are over 65, your only option may be Hospital Italiano Magna Plan. If you check with other providers one of your first questions should be what is the maximum age that they accept. For traveling to other countries you can contact Assist Card or PAX.