Argentine President Milei Reduces Drug Coverage for Retirees
Shelving with medicines. X/ @AecioEscalante
December 2, 2024 Hour: 12:10 pm
In practice, this measure implies the elimination of the ‘Live Better’ plan, which was created in 2020.
On Monday, the Comprehensive Medical Care Program (PAMI) announced that five medications will no longer be fully covered by the Argentine state for retirees, except for those citizens eligible for the so-called “Social Subsidy.”
RELATED:
Argentine Judges Uphold Conviction Against Former President Fernandez-Kirchner
“In practice, this is the complete elimination of the ‘Live Better’ plan, which was created in February 2020 by then-President Alberto Fernandez. It provided free access to 170 active ingredients used to produce 3,500 medication presentations,” reported the newspaper El Clarin.
Going forward, free medications for retirees and pensioners will be restricted to those earning less than US$384 per month. Seniors earning more than that amount will have to pay for their medications and will not be offered any discounts. Retirees and pensioners who meet the new PAMI requirements must complete a form to qualify for the subsidy for purchasing medications.
To access the medication subsidy, pensioners and retirees must not be enrolled in a prepaid healthcare system. If the beneficiary lives with someone with a disability, the household’s monthly income must be below three minimum retirement pensions. Applicants for the medication subsidy must not own more than one property, a vehicle less than 10 years old, luxury goods, or business assets.
This change is part of “a reorganization we have been implementing since March within the Institute, aimed at achieving responsible administration. This way, we can ensure that resources effectively reach those who need them most,” said PAMI Director Esteban Leguizamon.
teleSUR/ JF Source: Clarin – Pagina 12
