'ANS benefits health insurance companies more than the people'
Senator Lídice da Mata (PSB-BA) stated that "the ANS (National Supplementary Health Agency) has favored the interests of health plan operators more – authorizing increases in health plans above inflation, for example – than the rights of consumers"; "Consumers end up having to resort to the courts to have their rights guaranteed," she said.
Bahia 247 Senator Lídice da Mata (PSB-BA) criticized the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS), which had published new rules, suspended by the Supreme Federal Court, pointing out that patients will have to pay up to 40% in the case of co-participation charges on the value of each procedure performed with health plans.
Coparticipation means paying, in addition to the monthly health plan fee, a portion of the price of the consultation, exam, or procedure. The deductible is an amount established in the contract – in this case, the health plan provider is not responsible. It is also an additional amount, separate from the monthly fee.
According to the congresswoman, "the ANS (National Supplementary Health Agency) has favored the interests of health plan operators more – authorizing increases in health plans above inflation, for example – than the rights of consumers." "Consumers end up having to resort to the courts to have their rights guaranteed," she stated.
Responding to a request for a preliminary (provisional) decision from the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), the president of the Supreme Federal Court, Cármen Lúcia, suspended the agency's resolution this Monday morning (16). The decision will still have to be analyzed by the rapporteur of the action, Minister Celso de Mello, and then will be validated or overturned by the full STF.
"The Supreme Court ended up putting a stop to this health plan spree with the ANS. I am the author of the request for a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry to investigate the absurd increase in health plan prices and I have criticized the actions of the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS), which has been acting in favor of health plans," said Lídice.