70% of Peruvians are affiliated with Comprehensive Health Insurance

The Ministry of Health (MINSA) presented a new balance on health insurance, emphasizing the public sector. According to the health portfolio, to date there are more than 25 million people covered by Comprehensive Health Insurance (SIS), a result of the implementation of measures during the pandemic. It should be remembered that membership in the SIS guarantees free health care in State health establishments.

The growth in insurance coverage dates back to Emergency Decree 017-2019. The issuance of the regulations allowed the affiliation of all people residing in the national territory without health insurance, regardless of their socioeconomic classification. At the time of issuance, the Comprehensive Health Insurance (SIS) had 17.9 million insured. The year 2020 began with 20 million, and in 2021 the figure exceeded 23.8 million.

Currently, according to the MINSA, the health-insured population represents 70% of the country’s population. In other words, there has been a growth of more than seven million members. For the Peruvian health authority, other measures that contributed to improving health insurance were Emergency Decrees 046-2021 and 078-2021, which standardized the coverage of the five SIS insurance plans, covering more than 12,000 diseases.

It is worth noting that, during the Covid-19 health emergency, affiliation to the Comprehensive Health Insurance was promoted through digital or remote channels. Among these channels are the toll-free line 113, option 4; WhatsApp number 941 986 682 and email [email protected].

Likewise, self-enrollment in insurance was encouraged through the “Asegura e Infórmate” mobile application and digital affiliation through the Comprehensive Health Insurance website. These two methods allowed us to reach more than 138,000 people.

Prioritization of affiliation to Comprehensive Health Insurance in the Amazon of Peru

Since 2021, the SIS has carried out intensive work to expand insurance in the native communities of the Amazon and the high areas of the Andes. The main objective is to affiliate, inform and guide the population about the benefits of insurance, emphasizing interculturality in the provision of health services. In addition, it seeks to maintain and promote health insurance policies, as well as promote the exercise of the population’s rights.

In the last three years, approximately 7,000 communities have been visited in the Amazon and the Andes, benefiting more than 800,000 people in situations of poverty and extreme poverty. More than 34,000 residents who did not have health insurance have been enrolled.

To achieve this objective, the staff has been trained in issues of diversity and interculturality, with the purpose of respecting the traditions, uses and customs of the population served. In addition, they have received training in areas related to their responsibilities, such as universal health insurance, information security management and the fight against corruption.