Healthcare in Argentina for expats and employers: obras sociales, prepagas, PMO and switching rules

Key rules

1. The legal framework in one view

Decree 171/2024 art. 26 confirms SSSalud as the enforcement authority of Laws 23.660, 23.661 and 26.682 and their regulations.

2. Who is covered by the obra social system

Compulsory beneficiaries (Law 23.660 art. 8, as replaced by DNU 70/2023 art. 277):

• employees in the private or public sector;
• national retirees and pensioners;
• beneficiaries of national non contributory benefits.

Family members (art. 9): the spouse; unmarried children up to 21; unmarried children from 21 up to and including 25 who are fully dependent and studying; disabled dependent children over 21; the spouse's children; minors under court or administrative guardianship; and a cohabiting partner who receives "ostensible family treatment". SSSalud may authorise other dependent relatives by blood (for example a parent), with an additional 1.5% contribution for each (art. 9, last paragraph, as replaced by DNU 70/2023 art. 278; art. 16 b)).

The law draws no distinction by nationality for employees: art. 8 a) covers "workers who provide services as employees". A foreign employee on an Argentine payroll is therefore covered on the same terms as an Argentine one. The practical requirement is a CUIL so that contributions can be declared [see /guide/labor/foreigners/].

Law 23.661 art. 5 extends the insurance to self-employed workers in the national pension system (item b)) and to people with permanent residence who lack coverage because they have no paid work or pension (item c)), "under the conditions set by regulation". Item c) is marked "sin reglamentar" in the 576/93 regulation as replaced by Decree 171/2024 art. 15, so there is no working route for an uninsured resident to join through it (unconfirmed).

Coverage after a job ends (art. 10): an employee who worked continuously for more than three months keeps coverage for three months after termination, without contributions (item a)). During sick leave coverage continues for the job retention period (item b)); during unpaid suspension, for three months (item c)). The family group follows the employee. On the employee's death, the family keeps coverage for three months and may then continue by paying the contributions (item h)).

3. Contributions and where the money goes

The base is remuneration as defined for pensions (Law 23.660 art. 18). For part time work, contributions are calculated as if the employee were full time in the category (art. 18; the Law 27.802 file also says the obra social contribution for part time workers "will be that of a full time worker of the category"). Whether the pension maximum base (ARS 4,769,631.49, US$ 3,049.83, from the October 2026 accrual period, ANSES Res. 284/2026 art. 3) also caps the obra social contribution is not stated in Law 23.660 (unconfirmed).

Collective agreements may set higher contributions, and those remain valid (art. 16, last paragraph). Contributions can only be increased by law (art. 17).

4. Free choice and switching

The right to choose dates from Decree 9/1993 (7 January 1993). Its operative articles 1 to 3 were repealed by Decree 170/2024 art. 4 (BO 21 February 2024, in force 1 March 2024); the right is now governed by Decree 504/1998:

• Who may choose. Titular members of any agent in Law 23.660 art. 1, between any of those entities, except retirees (art. 9) and monotributistas (art. 9 bis) (Decree 504/98 art. 1, as replaced by Decree 955/2024 art. 5). Since item i) of art. 1 now covers "all entities in art. 1 of Law 26.682" (DNU 70/2023 art. 270), prepagas that register as agents are within the choice.
• Which prepagas qualify. Only prepagas registered in the agents' register of Law 23.660 art. 6. SSSalud Res. 232/2024 (BO 4 March 2024) renamed the old RNOS as the Registro Nacional de Agentes del Seguro (RNAS) and requires item i) entities that want to receive contributions to register there (Infoleg note to Law 23.660 art. 1). Decree 576/93 Annex I art. 1 i), as replaced by Decree 171/2024 art. 1, allows registration only of prepagas typified as Type A and B under SSSalud Res. 1950/2021, and expressly excludes Type C (unconfirmed).
• When it takes effect. The first day of the month after the request is formalised (art. 2).
• Minimum stay. The minimum period is set by the authority but may never exceed one year (art. 14, as replaced by DNU 70/2023 art. 312). SSSalud's procedure page says the option can be exercised "only once a year (every 365 days)".
• Exception for prepaga members. The minimum stay does not apply to a member who, while affiliated to an agent, chose a prepaga as the provider of their coverage, if that prepaga is in both the RNEMP (Law 26.682 art. 5 b)) and the agents' register. That member may switch directly to that same prepaga (art. 2, as replaced by Decree 170/2024 art. 2). This is the route for people who used to reach a prepaga through a "bridge" obra social.
• New hires. Workers starting a job may choose their agent (art. 13, as replaced by DNU 70/2023 art. 311).
• Who cannot switch (art. 10): (a) people whose employment has ended, during the three month post-termination coverage; (b) workers whose monthly pay is below three MOPRES (unconfirmed). The SSSalud procedure page states the threshold differently, as "two minimum pension bases", and adds women on maternity leave or in excedencia and members of entities outside the RNAS (armed forces, judiciary, provincial obras sociales). The decree and the agency page do not match (unconfirmed).
• Whole family moves together (art. 8). Spouses who are both titular members may unify their contributions in one agent (art. 5; Decree 576/93 Annex I art. 9 as replaced by Decree 171/2024 art. 5).
• Pre-existing chronic conditions after a switch. Because obras sociales may not impose waiting periods, pre-existing condition exclusions or admission exams, the original obra social remains responsible for nine months for a member under treatment or with a pre-existing chronic illness, and the new agent bills it (art. 12). Whether this rule still applies when the receiving agent is a prepaga operating under Law 26.682 is not addressed in the texts (unconfirmed).
• The receiving agent only owes the PMO to incoming members, even if its own original members have better coverage. The newcomer may pay a supplement to match (art. 11).
• No employer pressure. An employer, manager or official who obstructs or pushes a member's choice must be reported to SSSalud (art. 15). This matters for corporate plans: an employer may offer a plan but may not force or condition the choice.

5. Prepagas: registration and scope

Who is a prepaga. Any natural or legal person, of any legal form, whose object is to provide prevention, protection, treatment and rehabilitation of human health through voluntary membership with payment of fees, using its own or contracted providers, individually or corporately (Law 26.682 art. 2). Cooperatives, mutuals, civil associations and foundations with that object are included (art. 1, as replaced by DNU 1991/2011), and so are obras sociales for the voluntary or upgrade plans they sell (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 1 b)).

Registration. Prepagas must register in the Registro Nacional de Entidades de Medicina Prepaga (RNEMP) kept by SSSalud. Registration requires a member roll, territorial distribution, contract models, assets, the last three financial statements, coverage plans, by-laws and structure (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 5 b) and c)). Registration by SSSalud resolution is the authorisation to operate. An unauthorised entity may not sell plans, and SSSalud will report it and may file a criminal complaint (art. 5 e)). Directors must provide IGJ, insolvency, criminal record and property inhibition certificates (art. 3).

Contracts. Only contract models approved by SSSalud may be used (Law 26.682 art. 8). SSSalud must decide on models within 30 business days, and changes need prior approval (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 5 f)).

Two regimes after DNU 70/2023. Law 26.682 art. 30 bis (added by DNU 70/2023 art. 268) says the law applies only to voluntary members whose link is outside Law 23.660. When a prepaga receives a member's mandatory contributions, that member is within Law 23.660 (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 30 bis, added by Decree 171/2024 art. 25). For those members, Decree 576/93 Annex I art. 3 (as replaced by DNU 600/2024 art. 3) says the prepaga may charge a fee and credit the mandatory contributions to offer a better plan, and that Law 26.682 arts. 9 (termination), 10 (waiting periods and pre-existing conditions) and 12 (over 65 rule) apply. If the plan ends for any reason, the member may move to any other agent without any time limit. The texts do not say whether art. 17 (age bands) or art. 15 (corporate continuity) apply to derived members (unconfirmed).

6. Minimum mandatory coverage (PMO)

Every prepaga plan must include at least the PMO in force under Ministry of Health resolution and the basic benefits system for persons with disabilities of Law 24.901 (Law 26.682 art. 7). Law 24.754 (BO 2 January 1997, per the erratum in the file) had already required prepagas to cover at least the same "mandatory benefits" as obras sociales (art. 1). Agents of the insurance system must also cover at least the PMO (Decree 576/93 Annex II art. 2, as replaced by Decree 171/2024 art. 14).

The PMO text in the files is Res. MS 201/2002 (9 April 2002), originally an "emergency" PMO (PMOE) that later decrees extended (Infoleg notes cite Decree 2724/2002, Decree 1210/2003, Decree 756/2004 and Law 25.972). Other laws have since added items, for example Law 27.552 and Res. MS 2820/2022 (Infoleg notes). Its main content (Annex I):

Co-payments were freed in 2024. According to the Infoleg note to Annex I, Res. MS 1926/2024 (BO 24 June 2024) cancelled the co-payment amounts set for PMO services that are not exempt and allowed entities in Law 23.660 art. 1 to set them freely, except for the services in its annex and the services that are fully covered. The changes "have not been incorporated" into the updated text, so the annex in the files is partly out of date (unconfirmed).

Partial plans. Prepagas may only sell partial coverage plans for dental care, emergency and transport services, or if they operate in a single locality with fewer than 5,000 members (Law 26.682 art. 7). Social security contributions can never be used to pay for a partial plan (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 7, as replaced by Decree 171/2024 art. 21).

7. Waiting periods, pre-existing conditions and age

• No waiting periods for PMO services (Law 26.682 art. 10). For services above the PMO, waiting periods must be explicit in the approved contract and may never exceed 12 calendar months from the start of the contract (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 10, as replaced by Decree 171/2024 art. 22). If a service under a waiting period later enters the PMO, the waiting period lapses.
• Pre-existing conditions may only be established from the applicant's sworn statement and cannot be a ground for refusing admission. SSSalud authorises justified differential prices for them (art. 10). The regulation distinguishes temporary, chronic and high cost conditions and makes SSSalud approve both the extra fee and its duration within 30 days of a complete request (Annex art. 10).
• Age is not a ground to refuse admission (art. 11), nor are the grounds of discrimination in Law 23.592 art. 1 (Annex art. 11) (unconfirmed).
• Family members listed in art. 14 (spouse, children, cohabiting partner) are covered without exclusions for pre-existing conditions or waiting periods and cannot be charged differentiated fees for those reasons (art. 14, last paragraph).

8. Prices and increases

9. Termination and arrears

• By the member: at any time, without limitation or penalty, with 30 days' formal notice (Law 26.682 art. 9). The regulation adds that this right may be used once a year "to avoid abuse", and that the prepaga may not make termination conditional on paying arrears (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 9 1)).
• By the prepaga, only for: (a) non payment of three full consecutive monthly fees: the prepaga must immediately give formal notice of default and allow 10 business days to pay in full; if the member does not pay, it may terminate "to prevent new billing periods from accruing" (Annex art. 9 2) a)). The law itself says "10 days" (art. 9); the regulation says business days. Or (b) a false sworn statement, but only if the prepaga proves the member acted in bad faith under CCyC art. 961; otherwise the termination is unlawful (Annex art. 9 2) b)).
• Death of the titular member: the family group keeps PMO coverage for two months free of charge, and may then continue with a new titular member (Law 26.682 art. 13; Annex art. 13).
• Leaving a corporate plan: a member who leaves the company has 60 days from the end of the employment or link to ask for continuity, with seniority recognised, in one of the prepaga's plans; the prepaga must keep the plan running until those 60 days expire (art. 15).
• Change of provider: if a provider leaves the plan's directory, the member may keep being treated by the original provider until discharge for the condition in course, at no extra cost (Annex art. 26 b)).

10. Public hospitals and emergencies

The public hospital is the fallback for everyone, but the texts in the files only deal with who pays:

• Prepagas must pay public hospitals and other public providers for services provided and billed even without a prior agreement, at the values SSSalud sets for agents of the insurance system. Urgent and emergency cases need no prior authorisation; the entity has three days to validate afterwards (Law 26.682 art. 20).
• Agents of the insurance system must pay for services their members obtain from public hospitals that comply with national rules (Decree 9/93 art. 9). Self managed public hospitals (Hospitales Públicos de Gestión Descentralizada) may ask SSSalud to debit unpaid amounts from the entity's collection account (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 20).
• "Urgency" means accidents or complications of pregnancy; "emergency" means immediate risk of death or irreparable harm (Annex art. 20). Members have a right to emergency services and the coverage question is settled afterwards (Law 26.682 art. 26 a)).

Whether and how public hospitals charge uninsured foreigners or non residents is a provincial and municipal matter and is not in the source files (unconfirmed).

11. Complaints and disputes

• SSSalud must provide channels to receive complaints from users and providers (Law 26.682 art. 5 j); Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 5 j)).
• SSSalud lists complaint procedures for: refusal of affiliation, coverage problems, undue age band increase, disability services and refusal of voluntary termination of pregnancy (SSSalud "Usuarios" page).
• A coverage complaint needs the signed complaint form, ID document of the titular member and family (both sides), membership cards, an up to date prescription, a clinical summary and a medical justification, plus proof of payment by regime (payslip; prepaga invoice; Monotributo payment and ARCA forms F152 and F184; domestic staff payment through F575; pension receipt) (SSSalud coverage complaint page). An age band complaint needs the invoices before and after the increase and proof of the joining date (SSSalud age band complaint page).
• Filing is free: online through TAD (Trámites a Distancia) with an ARCA or Mi Argentina login, in person by appointment (also through 0800-222 SALUD (72583)), or by post to Bartolomé Mitre 434, ground floor, CABA, C1036AAH, or a regional office. Time limits and sanctions follow SSSalud Res. 951/2025 (unconfirmed).
• Sanctions for prepagas: warning; fine from three monthly fees up to 30% of the previous year's billing; cancellation of registration for extreme and repeated cases. The prepaga must still provide an urgent service despite any sanction. Appeals go to the federal administrative court of appeals within 10 business days (Law 26.682 art. 24).
• Pre-trial mediation (PROMESA). Decree 379/2025 created an optional mediation procedure for health disputes against entities under Laws 23.660, 23.661 or 26.682, regulated by Joint Resolution 1/2025; it is filed through TAD and the entity may also request it. SSSalud says it "entered into force on 2 September" (unconfirmed).
• Consumer law. For the consumer relationship, the authorities under Law 24.240 also apply (Law 26.682 art. 4). Administrative approval of a contract or clause does not prevent a court from declaring it abusive (CCyC art. 1122 a)).

Step by step

A. Employee who wants a prepaga using their contributions

1. Check status. Get a CUIL and confirm the employer has registered you. On the SSSalud "Mi Agente del Seguro" service you can see which agent currently receives your contributions (SSSalud "Usuarios" page). Without an option, contributions go to the agent your employer declares each month (SSSalud "Mis cambios" page).
2. Choose a prepaga that is a registered agent. It must appear in the RNAS list of agents (SSSalud procedure page) and, as a prepaga, in the RNEMP. Only Type A and B prepagas can register as agents (Decree 576/93 Annex I art. 1 i)).
3. Get a quote in writing from the prepaga for the plan, showing the full monthly fee, the amount it will credit from your contributions and the difference you pay. Ask for the approved contract model (Law 26.682 art. 8) and the list of covered and excluded services (art. 7).
4. Complete the sworn health statement honestly. Pre-existing conditions may lead to a surcharge, not to rejection (art. 10). A false statement made in bad faith allows termination (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 9 2) b)).
5. File the option online at SSSalud with ARCA Clave Fiscal level 3: Option change, New option, fill personal data, choose the agent, accept, confirm, then click the confirmation link in the email within 48 hours or the option lapses (SSSalud procedure page). Free of charge.
6. Affiliate with the prepaga. After confirmation, contact the chosen agent to complete affiliation so services are available from the start date (SSSalud procedure page).
7. Start date: the first day of the next month (Decree 504/98 art. 2). Keep your old card until then.
8. Pay the difference directly to the prepaga, or arrange for the employer to pay it (see section D).
9. Check the first payslips and invoices. The invoice should show the credit of contributions. Use "Mis Aportes" and "Mis Cambios" on the SSSalud site to confirm.

B. Expat with no employment (voluntary member)

1. Choose a prepaga registered in the RNEMP (SSSalud keeps a search list, per the "Usuarios" page).
2. Sign the approved contract; the full fee is paid by you. Law 26.682 applies in full (art. 30 bis).
3. Documentation: the law does not list the identity documents a prepaga may require. Prepagas generally ask for an Argentine DNI or passport (unconfirmed). SSSalud complaints require a copy of the "DNI" of the titular member and family (SSSalud complaint pages), which may be an obstacle for people still waiting for their DNI (unconfirmed).
4. Remember the 3x age band rule and the 12 month cap on waiting periods; ask in writing which services are under a waiting period.

C. Monotributista (freelancer)

1. Register in the Monotributo; the obra social component is part of the monthly payment (Table 4).
2. Choose an agent from the register of agents that accept monotributistas (Decree 504/98 art. 9 bis; Decree 1/2010 art. 69 bis). Agents may limit which categories they accept (art. 69 bis).
3. Exercise the option online, as in A.5. Minimum stay 12 months (Decree 1/2010 art. 74 c)).
4. Add family members by paying the extra amount per member (ARCA footnote (****)).
5. Coverage starts progressively: the PMOE is split by levels for each person from their own joining date; SURGE and Integration services are covered from six months (Decree 1/2010 Annex, as replaced by Decree 955/2024 arts. 3 and 4). The other levels are not in the files (unconfirmed).
6. Stay current. You need to be up to date to receive services, and the agent may disaffiliate you after three consecutive or five non consecutive unpaid months (Law 24.977 art. 42).

D. Employer offering a corporate plan

1. Pick the structure. Either (a) a corporate voluntary plan under Law 26.682 paid by the company, where employees keep their contributions in whichever agent they chose, or (b) a plan where employees direct their mandatory contributions to the prepaga and the company pays the difference.
2. Do not force the choice. Employers must not obstruct or push the option (Decree 504/98 art. 15). Make derivation optional and documented as the employee's own decision.
3. Payroll treatment. Since Law 27.802 (BO 6 March 2026), "comprehensive medical plans granted in kind or the differences in payment of the fees of those plans" are social benefits: non remunerative, with no social security contributions (new LCT art. 103 bis b), Law 27.802 art. 31). Income tax treatment for the employee and deductibility for the employer are not covered in this page (unconfirmed).
4. Contract with the prepaga using an SSSalud approved corporate model (Law 26.682 art. 8).
5. Leavers. Tell departing employees in writing that they have 60 days to ask the prepaga for continuity with seniority (Law 26.682 art. 15). Their obra social coverage also continues three months after termination (Law 23.660 art. 10 a)).
6. Monthly compliance. Deposit the 6% and 3% through ARCA within 15 calendar days of the salary due date (Law 23.660 art. 19). Declare the agent each employee chose.

E. Retiree

1. Argentine pensioners contribute to PAMI: 3% of the pension up to the minimum pension and 6% on the excess (Law 19.032 art. 8 a)).
2. They may choose PAMI or an obra social in the special register of Decree 292/1995, which then receives a capita payment from PAMI (Decree 504/98 art. 9). The option is made before ANSES (SSSalud procedure page).
3. A foreign retiree whose pension is paid abroad is not a beneficiary of Law 23.660 art. 8 b) (national retirees) and can only buy a voluntary prepaga plan (unconfirmed).
4. Prepagas cannot refuse an applicant for age (Law 26.682 art. 11), and the oldest band has no maximum age (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 17). The over 65 freeze on age increases needs 10 years in the same entity (art. 12), so a newcomer at 66 does not benefit.

Costs and timelines

Table 1. System map

Table 2. PMO and coverage rules at a glance

Table 3. Pricing and increase rules before and after DNU 70/2023

Contradiction still in the regulation. Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 5 g) still says fees "will be authorised according to art. 17" and that entities wanting to increase fees must apply to SSSalud for Ministry approval. Decree 102/2025 replaced art. 17 but left art. 5 g) untouched. Law art. 5 g), which art. 5 g) of the regulation implemented, was repealed by DNU 70/2023 art. 267, and SSSalud says it no longer has competence over prices. In practice the free pricing rule is applied (unconfirmed).

Table 4. Monotributo obra social component (values from 1 August 2026)

Source: ARCA "Montos y categorías vigentes" page, "Valores de aplicación desde el 1/08/2026", column "Aportes obra social", footnote (****): "Individual affiliation to obra social, without dependents. For each dependent, the same amount must also be paid". The statutory amounts in the last column are the Law 24.977 art. 39 b) figures as replaced by Law 27.743; ARCA updates them periodically (unconfirmed). Note that the statute sets a much lower ARS 419 for each family member (art. 39 c)), while ARCA's footnote says the same amount as the titular member; the ARCA page is what members actually pay (unconfirmed). 10% of the component goes to the FSR (art. 39 b)). ARCA also states that retirees are exempt from paying the obra social component and that people already contributing as employees are exempt from Monotributo social security payments (Law 24.977 art. 40 4.; ARCA footnote (***)).

Table 5. Derivation and switching: rules and timings

Table 6. Timeline of norms

Worked examples

Example 1. Employee earning ARS 2,000,000 who derives contributions to a prepaga plan costing ARS 450,000

Facts: single employee, gross monthly salary ARS 2,000,000 (US$ 1,278.85), no additional dependents. The employee chooses a prepaga registered in the RNAS whose individual plan costs ARS 450,000 (US$ 287.74) a month. The salary is below the pension maximum base, so the cap question does not arise.

Step 1. Contributions (Law 23.660 art. 16):

Step 2. Split (art. 19, as replaced by DNU 600/2024):

Step 3. Difference to pay. The prepaga may "credit the mandatory contributions" against its fee (Decree 576/93 Annex I art. 3, as replaced by DNU 600/2024 art. 3). If it credits what it actually receives:

Whether a given prepaga credits the 85% net amount, the gross 9% or a different figure is a matter of its commercial terms; the decree does not specify the amount to be credited (unconfirmed).

Step 4. Comparison with the pre August 2024 split. Between DNU 70/2023 and DNU 600/2024, Law 23.660 art. 19 a) gave item i) entities only 80% when pay exceeded ARS 1,000, sending 20% to the FSR (DNU 70/2023 art. 284). With the same salary the prepaga would have received 144,000.00 (US$ 92.08) and the difference would have been 306,000.00 (US$ 195.66). On top, art. 19 bis required 20% of any "additional contributions" (the difference paid to the plan) to go to the FSR (DNU 70/2023 art. 285). DNU 600/2024 unified the split at 85/15 and repealed art. 19 bis. The FSR saving for the member is ARS 9,000 a month.

Step 5. Variant with a dependent parent. If the employee adds a dependent mother authorised by SSSalud under art. 9, the employee pays an extra 1.5% (ARS 30,000, US$ 19.18). Total contributions rise to 210,000; 85% is 178,500.00 (US$ 114.14). The plan for two people will cost more than 450,000; the contribution figure is what to compare against the family quote.

Step 6. Variant with a working spouse. A spouse earning ARS 1,500,000 generates 135,000 (9%) and 114,750.00 (US$ 73.37) at 85%. Spouses who are both titular members may unify their contributions in one agent (Decree 504/98 art. 5), giving a combined credit of 267,750.00 (US$ 171.21) against a couple or family plan.

Step 7. Income tax note. The employee's 3% is a deductible compulsory contribution, and the fees paid to entities providing medical coverage are deductible up to 5% of net income (ITL art. 85 f)). Whether the out of pocket difference of 297,000 a month is fully deductible within that 5% limit depends on the employee's net income for the year (unconfirmed).

Example 2. Family plan over 12 months with monthly increases

Facts: a family of four (two adults, two children under 21) on a prepaga family plan of ARS 1,200,000 (US$ 767.31) in November 2026. Hypothetical monthly increase: 2.4%, which is the September 2026 monthly change of the "Health" division of INDEC's CPI (national total). This rate is only an assumption for the example; prepagas set their own increases (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 17). Both adults are employees and have unified their contributions in the prepaga, as in Example 1 Step 6, for a monthly credit of ARS 267,750, assumed constant for simplicity (in reality it moves with salaries).

Calculation: the fee in month m is 1,200,000 × 1.024 raised to the power (m minus 1). The fee in month 12 is 29.8% above month 1 (1.024^11 = 1.2981).

What the law guarantees during those 12 months:

• Each increase must be notified at least 30 days before the payment falls due, with the percentage and the new fee (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 17). An increase applied without that notice can be challenged with SSSalud.
• The children are family members under art. 14 and cannot be charged differentiated fees for pre-existing conditions or waiting periods (Law 26.682 art. 14).
• If an adult moves into a higher age band, the band price may rise, but the oldest band may not exceed 3 times the youngest (art. 17). SSSalud has a specific complaint for "undue age band increases" (SSSalud "Usuarios" page).
• The family may leave at any time with 30 days' notice, but only once a year under the regulation (Annex art. 9 1)), and the switch of contributions to another agent is subject to the one year minimum stay (Decree 504/98 art. 14).

Example 3. Monotributista freelancer adding a spouse and a child

Facts: a foreign web developer registered in Monotributo category C, services, from August 2026. The obra social component is ARS 25,694.55 per person (ARCA table).

(Law 24.977 art. 39 b) sets the 10% FSR share for the titular contribution; for family members art. 39 c) also says 10%.) If the freelancer prefers a prepaga that accepts monotributistas, the family fee is credited with the contributions and the rest is paid privately, as in Example 1. In the first months, coverage builds up by levels (Decree 1/2010 Annex; Decree 955/2024).

Example 4. Retiree's PAMI contribution

A national retiree with a monthly pension of ARS 1,000,000 (US$ 639.43) in October 2026, when the minimum pension is ARS 435,748.51 (ANSES Res. 284/2026 art. 1):

(Law 19.032 art. 8 a).) The retiree may move to an obra social in the Decree 292/1995 register, which receives a capita payment from PAMI rather than this amount (Decree 504/98 art. 9).

Practical traps

1. "My prepaga is registered" is not enough. To receive contributions it must be in the RNAS as an agent, and only Type A and B prepagas can register (Decree 576/93 Annex I art. 1 i)). A prepaga only in the RNEMP can sell voluntary plans but cannot receive your contributions directly.
2. The bridge obra social. Before 2024, many employees reached a prepaga through an obra social that kept part of the contributions. SSSalud says that DNU 600/2024 seeks "to end triangulations and intermediation" (SSSalud "Mis cambios" page). If your payslip still shows a union or management obra social you never chose, check your option history; Decree 504/98 art. 2 lets you move straight to the prepaga without waiting a year.
3. The 48 hour confirmation email. An online option that is not confirmed through the emailed link within 48 hours lapses (SSSalud procedure page).
4. One year lock. After a switch you must stay one year (Decree 504/98 art. 14). Picking a cheap plan to test it can leave you there for 12 months.
5. Low salaries cannot switch. Pay below three MOPRES (decree) or two minimum pension bases (SSSalud page) blocks the option. Part time staff are most at risk (unconfirmed).
6. Termination of employment freezes the option. During the three month post-termination coverage you cannot switch (Decree 504/98 art. 10 a)).
7. Corporate plan leavers lose seniority if they miss 60 days. The art. 15 continuity right must be requested within 60 days. Seniority matters for the over 65 rule (Law 26.682 art. 12).
8. The over 65 protection needs 10 continuous years in the same entity. Moving prepaga at 60 restarts the clock (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 12). Changing plan inside the same entity does not.
9. Waiting periods above the PMO. Dental implants, private rooms, specific clinics and the like can carry up to 12 months of waiting period (Annex art. 10). Get the list in writing.
10. Pre-existing condition surcharge has a duration. SSSalud authorises both the amount and the period of the surcharge (Annex art. 10). Ask when it ends.
11. Increases may now differ by plan (Decree 102/2025). A plan that looks cheap may rise faster than others.
12. Co-payments are no longer capped for non exempt PMO services (Res. MS 1926/2024 note). Compare co-payment tables, not only the monthly fee.
13. Partial plans cannot absorb contributions (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 7). A dental only or emergency only plan must be paid separately.
14. Monotributistas can only pick from a shorter list (Decree 504/98 art. 9 bis), and agents can restrict accepted categories (Decree 1/2010 art. 69 bis).
15. Monotributo arrears end coverage. Three consecutive or five non consecutive unpaid months allow disaffiliation (Law 24.977 art. 42).
16. The monotributo family amount. The statute says ARS 419 per family member (Law 24.977 art. 39 c)); ARCA charges the same amount as the titular member. Budget with ARCA's figures.
17. Employer pressure is reportable. HR teams that make derivation to a company prepaga a condition of hiring risk a complaint under Decree 504/98 art. 15.
18. Documents in Spanish and an Argentine ID. SSSalud complaints and options are built around DNI, CUIL and Clave Fiscal level 3. Foreigners waiting for a DNI should plan for delays.

Recent changes

• 21 December 2023, DNU 70/2023: item i) added to Law 23.660 art. 1; Law 26.682 art. 17 limited to the 3x age band rule; art. 30 bis added; several Law 26.682 articles repealed; Decree 504/98 arts. 13 and 14 replaced.
• 1 March 2024, Decrees 170/2024 and 171/2024: new Decree 504/98 arts. 1 and 2 (prepaga exception to minimum stay); Decree 9/93 arts. 1 to 3 repealed; Type A and B prepagas may register as agents; 12 month cap on waiting periods; uniform increases rule; 10 years seniority computed across plans.
• 4 March 2024, SSSalud Res. 232/2024: RNOS renamed RNAS; prepagas wishing to receive contributions must register there.
• 24 June 2024, Res. MS 1926/2024: PMO co-payments freed except exempt services.
• 1 August 2024, DNU 600/2024: single 85/15 split; art. 19 bis (20% on additional amounts) repealed; Law 26.682 arts. 9, 10 and 12 apply to members with derived contributions; Law 26.682 art. 23 on FSR participation rewritten.
• 29 October 2024, Decree 955/2024: register of agents accepting monotributistas; 12 month minimum stay; SURGE coverage from six months.
• 18 February 2025, Decree 102/2025: increases may differ by plan; communication within five days after CPI publication.
• 2025, Decree 379/2025: PROMESA optional mediation (unconfirmed).
• 2 January 2026, Law 27.799 art. 35: limitation period for obra social contribution claims reduced from 10 to 3 years where the return was filed and the balance paid on time, unless there is a significant discrepancy (Law 23.660 art. 24).
• 6 March 2026, Law 27.802: LCT art. 103 bis makes employer paid medical plans and plan fee differences non remunerative social benefits (art. 31); from 1 January 2027 the 6% employer rate is written into Law 23.660 art. 16 a), with SSSalud power to audit its use (art. 165).
• 1 August 2026, ARCA: new Monotributo amounts, including the obra social component.

Pending changes

1. Status of DNU 70/2023 in Congress and the courts. The health chapters of DNU 70/2023 are in force according to the Infoleg updated texts used here. Its review under Law 26.122 and any court challenges to the prepaga provisions are not in the files (unconfirmed).
2. Regulation art. 5 g) versus free pricing. The regulation still describes prior approval of increases (Table 3 note). It should be repealed or adapted.
3. Over 65 percentages. Law 26.682 art. 12 requires the authority to define the percentage increases by risk for over 65 age bands. No such table is in the files (unconfirmed).
4. Stale references to art. 19 bis. DNU 600/2024 repealed Law 23.660 art. 19 bis, but Decree 576/93 Annex I arts. 19 bis and 27 5°) and 28 b), and Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 30 bis, still refer to it (as amended by Decree 171/2024). They are left without object (unconfirmed).
5. Which Law 26.682 articles apply to derived members. Only arts. 9, 10 and 12 are named (Decree 576/93 Annex I art. 3). Art. 15 (corporate continuity) and art. 17 (age bands) are not mentioned (unconfirmed).
6. Nine month rule after a switch to a prepaga. Decree 504/98 art. 12 was written for obras sociales. Its application to a prepaga receiving agent is unclear (unconfirmed).
7. Law 23.661 art. 5 c). Coverage for uninsured permanent residents remains unregulated.
8. Threshold for the right to switch. Decree 504/98 art. 10 b) (three MOPRES) and the SSSalud page (two minimum pension bases) differ.
9. Law 27.802 transition. The obra social rate moves into Law 23.660 on 1 January 2027; any regulation on how SSSalud will audit the "destination" of contributions is pending.
10. PMO update. The PMO is still the 2002 emergency text with later additions and the Res. MS 1926/2024 changes not consolidated in the annex. A consolidated PMO text is not in the files (unconfirmed).

FAQ

1. I am a foreign employee. Do I have to join an obra social? Yes. Every employee is a compulsory beneficiary, with 3% withheld from pay and 6% paid by the employer (Law 23.660 arts. 8 a) and 16). The law makes no distinction by nationality. You can choose which agent receives the money, including a prepaga registered in the RNAS.

2. Can I put my contributions toward a prepaga instead of a union obra social? Yes, if the prepaga is registered as an agent in the RNAS (Law 23.660 arts. 1 i) and 6; Decree 504/98 art. 1). Only Type A and B prepagas can register (Decree 576/93 Annex I art. 1 i)). The prepaga credits your contributions against its fee and you pay the difference (Annex I art. 3). See Example 1.

3. How often can I change? Once a year. The change takes effect on the first day of the following month (Decree 504/98 arts. 2 and 14; SSSalud procedure page). New hires can choose at the start of the job (art. 13).

4. Can a prepaga refuse me because I am 60 or because I have diabetes? No. Age and pre-existing conditions cannot be grounds for refusal (Law 26.682 arts. 10 and 11). For a declared pre-existing condition the prepaga can charge an SSSalud authorised surcharge for a set period (Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 10).

5. Are there waiting periods? Not for PMO services. For services above the PMO, waiting periods must be in the approved contract and cannot exceed 12 months (Law 26.682 art. 10; Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 10). Obras sociales cannot impose waiting periods at all (Decree 576/93 Annex II art. 1 d)).

6. Is there any limit on price increases? Not on the amount. Since Decree 102/2025, prepagas may raise fees freely and by different percentages for each plan, with 30 days' notice. The limits are the 3x age band rule (Law 26.682 art. 17) and the over 65 rule for members with more than 10 years in the entity (art. 12).

7. My prepaga raised my fee because I turned 50. Can I complain? Yes. SSSalud has a specific complaint for undue age band increases, filed through TAD, in person or by post, free of charge. You need invoices before and after the increase and proof of your joining date (SSSalud age band complaint page). The increase is lawful only if it respects the approved band structure and the 3x cap, and it is not allowed at all if you are over 65 with more than 10 years in the entity.

8. What happens if I fall behind on payments? The prepaga can only terminate after three full consecutive unpaid monthly fees, a formal default notice and 10 business days to pay (Law 26.682 art. 9; Decree 1993/2011 Annex art. 9 2) a)). For monotributistas, the agent may disaffiliate after three consecutive or five non consecutive unpaid Monotributo months (Law 24.977 art. 42).

9. I am leaving my employer. Do I lose my corporate prepaga? You have 60 days from leaving to ask the prepaga to continue in one of its plans with your seniority recognised (Law 26.682 art. 15). Separately, your obra social coverage continues for three months after termination if you worked more than three months (Law 23.660 art. 10 a)).

10. I am a freelancer on Monotributo. What does my health cover cost? The obra social component in your monthly payment ranges from ARS 25,694.55 (categories A to C) to ARS 87,882.82 (category K), plus the same amount for each family member (ARCA table from 1 August 2026). You can choose among agents that accept monotributistas (Decree 504/98 art. 9 bis) and must stay 12 months after a switch (Decree 1/2010 art. 74 c)).

11. Can my employer pay the difference for my prepaga without it counting as salary? Since Law 27.802 (March 2026), comprehensive medical plans in kind and the payment of fee differences are social benefits that are not remuneration and carry no social security contributions (LCT art. 103 bis b)). The employer must not pressure you about which agent to choose (Decree 504/98 art. 15).

12. Can I use a public hospital? Yes, the public system is the universal fallback. If you have a prepaga or an obra social, the hospital may bill it: prepagas must pay public hospitals even without an agreement, and emergencies need no prior authorisation (Law 26.682 art. 20; Decree 9/93 art. 9). Charges to uninsured foreigners are set by provinces and are not covered in the files (unconfirmed).

13. Is my prepaga fee deductible for income tax? Fees paid to entities providing medical coverage for you and your dependents are deductible up to 5% of net income; compulsory obra social contributions are deductible in full (ITL art. 85 f)).

Primary sources

• Law 23.660, Obras Sociales (updated text)
• Law 23.661, National Health Insurance System (updated text)
• Law 26.682, Prepaid Medicine (updated text)
• DNU 1991/2011
• Decree 1993/2011, regulation of Law 26.682 (updated text)
• Law 24.754
• Decree 9/1993 (updated text)
• Decree 504/1998 (updated text)
• DNU 70/2023
• Decree 170/2024
• Decree 171/2024
• DNU 600/2024
• Decree 955/2024
• Decree 102/2025
• Res. MS 201/2002 (PMO), main text
• Res. MS 201/2002, Annex I
• SSSalud, Usuarios
• SSSalud, Entidades de Medicina Prepaga
• SSSalud, Valores de planes
• SSSalud, Centro de atención virtual
• SSSalud, Trámites, denuncias y consultas
• SSSalud, Realizar opción de cambio
• SSSalud, Denuncia por problemáticas de cobertura prestacional
• SSSalud, Denunciar por aumento indebido de cuota por rango etario
• SSSalud, Mis cambios de Agente del Seguro
• SSSalud, PROMESA
• Law 24.977, Monotributo (updated text), arts. 39, 40, 42
• ARCA, Monotributo "Montos y categorías vigentes"

Related pages

• How much does private health insurance (prepaga) cost in Argentina?
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• /guide/taxes/individuals-and-personal-assets-tax/
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