HM offers two types of health insurance baskets – partial and full

Latvian Healthcare Ministry plans to offer two types of health insurance service baskets – partial and full, says minister Anda Caksa.

The politician says the partial basket will include emergency medical services and family doctor services, as well as services for pregnant women and people suffering from diseases that put at risk the health of other people. At the same time, the minister says the draft of this service basket could be expanded.

The full service basket includes day care, outpatient and other services, Caksa explains.

At the same time, the minister reminds that Healthcare Ministry has not changed its position and remains against the introduction of a fixed health insurance payment. The institution and minister stand in favour of securing health insurance ties to the social tax, especially considering the level of grey economy in Latvia.

According to Caksa, financial estimates for health insurance are prepared by Finance Ministry. With that, Healthcare Ministry’s work group plans to hold discussions about that on 1 June.

As noted by the minister, it is important for Healthcare Ministry to make sure funding is found to cover all the needs of Latvian residents, as well as provide appropriate wages for doctors and hospital personnel.

As it is known, after the coalition council meeting Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis admitted that having one fixed payment for healthcare would not be the best possible solution.

Kucinskis notes – it is positive that this matter is discussed. However, it is not the best solution, as it does not secure progressiveness. On top of that, Latvian people’s income level varies greatly. At the same time, the prime minister says one solution could be securing mandatory health insurance and tying it to the payment of taxes.

It is also clear that external funding is required for healthcare because there are no internal reserves left. Division of funding alone is not enough to increase funding for healthcare, said Kucinskis, adding that «someone will have to pay either way».

Unity’s deputy chairman Edvards Smiltens says a fixed amount for all residents would not be a reasonable solution, because one of the tax reform’s objectives is reducing inequality. This is why it is necessary to look at all scenarios and pick one that would benefits society and the budget the most.

Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Rihards Kozlovskis also believes residents’ income level range between very low to very high. Introduction of such a payment would be too heavy for most. This is why he proposes considering progressiveness principle.

BNN/LETA 

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