Health is a universal right that must be respected for all citizens, which is why in Costa Rica there is a health system such as the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), which helps the Ticos in these times of Pandemic by COVID-19. However, it also faces difficulties that must be corrected.
One of these difficulties is the debt that the CCSS carries and that the Costa Rican Government has not yet canceled, which considerably affects its medical coverage in these difficult times for the health of the Costa Rican people. Also, the resources of the CCSS have been reduced by the economic slowdown and now by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Importantly, what has become clear around the world is that countries with strong public health systems are those that can best cope with the virus. For example, in countries like Ecuador or Peru where their public health systems have been dismantled since the 1990s and today, the risks of not having a robust health system have been observed, where the levels of contagion are quite high as well the deaths.
Also, the case of the United States is observed, where people cannot pay the costs of medicine and not going to hospital centers for fear of not being able to pay the medical bill. This has generated a considerable increase in deaths from COVID-19.
Financial difficulties of the CCSS
The President of Costa Rica Carlos Alvarado pointed out the financial difficulties faced by the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) for attending to the health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, affirming that today the Government is not capable of paying the debt of ¢ 1.5 billion that it maintains with the institution.
For his part, the president of the CCSS, Román Macaya stated that the fund has different scenarios based on the collection of health and pension insurance. In health insurance, they forecast an income reduction of between ¢ 190 and ¢ 303 billion, in the next 6 months. In pensions, they contemplate reductions of up to ¢ 417 billion.
The institution has a fiscal reserve to face this type of emergency, of which just over ¢ 35 billion remains. According to recent information, it is estimated that, by September of this year, if a high percentage of the CCSS debt is not canceled, it will have to start using the reserves that it had destined for Christmas bonuses, vacations, investment projects and the Invalidity, Old Age and Death Plan (IVM).
Injection of ¢ 33,000 million to amortize the debt
About the debt, it was learned that the Costa Rican Government promised to inject ¢ 33,000 million into the CCSS in the short term to pay off debt. This to alleviate the financial shock caused by the new Coronavirus Pandemic. In the same way, the proposal to create a bilateral work team to find solutions with creativity.
Likewise, Alvarado stated, “The Government of the Republic will never, ever, and less today, leave the CCSS without the necessary support to take care of us as a country; you can have my guarantee as President of that “.
It is expected that the working group between the Government and the management of the CCSS will begin soon and hopefully will be able to reach a consensus for the gradual cancellation of the debt that has been dragging with the CCSS, for the benefit of the Costa Rican people.
Ensuring the Well-being of all Ticos
It is important to know that since its creation on November 1, 1941, by Law No. 17, the Costa Rican Social Security Fund today plays a strategic role in the health care of all Costa Ricans. That is why it is important today that the national government pays a large percentage of the CCSS so it can continue offering an optimal social security system to the population, especially in these times of Pandemic.
From The Costa Rica News, we acknowledge and are grateful for the work of the doctors, nurses, assistants, and all health personnel, who are the true heroes and that with commitment and courage, are helping the nation successfully overcome this Pandemic.
The Costa Rican government should immediately increase monthly dues for non-citizens. Permanent residents who hold citizenship from the USA, Canada and Europe should be paying fair share. Also foreigners who own property in Costa Rica should be taxed at the level of their country of origin for these properties.
Your argument is valid. But each country has its own Taxation regime, a regulation for non-citizen permanent residents dues, is viable, carefully designed and implemented to not discourage investments in the nation.