The General Mutuality of State Civil Officials (MUFACE) seems to have come to an end. After the insurers Adeslas, Asisa and DKV rejected the agreement offered by the Government, with an increase in the annual premium of 17.12%, The Government is considering transferring all private health officials to public health.
On many occasions, from the Ministry of Health have claimed to be against private healthcare and nowthe minister of the sector distances herself from the intention to renew the contract with MUFACE.
Report from the Ministry of Health
According to the Ministry of Health report, the most logical thing is to end the mutual society as it is an “unsustainable” organization. The minister’s intention is to incorporate the entire mutual population into public health in nine monthswhich means that more than a million and a half people have access to public healthcare.
“The Muface model It is currently not sustainable, not even with a significant increase in the capitabecause no insurance system works if it does not have a pool of risks that allows counterweights to be exercised between those who most demand the service and those who make less intense use,” the report states.
Furthermore, it is stated that the mutualist population is older than the general population (the average age of the Muface mutualist population has increased 3.7 years in the last decade), so, if the current model continues, “the capita increases that would have to occur in the future would be of a significant amount”. Likewise, the document insists that there is less and less young mutualist population that “compensates” the costs of older populations, so the transition of mutualists towards public health “It is a decision that will have to be made sooner or later”.
However, it is important to highlight that the Ministry of Health lacks powers to renew the MUFACE contractsince it is an organism that depends on the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function.
Measures for transition
To carry out the change of officials from one system to another, The Government would allocate the financing that it currently provides to insurers to the Autonomous Communities, with the aim that they invest it in regional health services.. In total they would be 2,681 million euros that would reach the coffers of the autonomous communities.
During the nine months of transition, Health proposes a scaled incorporation in order of surname, age and insurer to avoid collapse.
MUFACE Vigor
It is important to remember that MUFACE beneficiaries have private healthcare guaranteed until January 31, so this transfer would not become official until after that date. Insurers must continue to cover the health expenses of officials until February.
Who will be affected?
The General Mutuality of State Civil Servants (MUFACE) is responsible for covering the health of all teachers (preschool, primary, secondary and universities), the Treasury and Labor inspectors, the National Police. Therefore, these officials would see private healthcare disappear from their options.
CSIF threatens strikes
The Independent Central Union of Civil Servants, one of the largest unions at the national level, has threatened to call demonstrations after learning of the Health report. Likewise, he has requested explanations from the Ministry led by Óscar López, disagreeing with the document issued by the ministry.
From the organization they confirm that they are not going to accept “the unilateral decision of the Government on the possibility of ending MUFACE”, thus evaluating the call for various demonstrations, without ruling out strikes.