Resource
The Colombian social health insurance system since the passing of law 100
- English
Summary (English)
The Colombian social health system consists of both a contributory system, covering 15 million employers and workers, and a subsidized system covering 18.5 million poor people with a basic benefits package. The system, in effect since the passing of Law 100 in 1993, utilizes a large-scale mechanism for solidarity and redistribution, with the goal of reaching universal coverage by 2009. The subsidized system receives 70% of its funding from the Government and 30% through transfers from the contributory system. Subsidies are provided to the 'demand side' (social health insurance) rather than 'supply side' (healthcare providers) actors. The Government finances and regulates the system, but delegates its management to a variety of types of insurers (private commercial, private non-profit mutual-type organizations, public), who compete with each other for shares of the market. The mutual sector currently dominates the subsidized system. Thanks to a favorable regulatory framework, over the past 12 years, mutual organizations have progressively merged into 8 large, more efficient structures, 7 of which have federated into a national association called GESTARSALUD.
Related info
• law 100
• decretos 05
• Gestarsalud