Temer's depression drives Brazilians away from health insurance plans and puts pressure on the public healthcare system.
For the fifth consecutive month, health plans registered a drop in the number of beneficiaries; in January, 192 clients lost their plans, according to data from the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS); this data is a result of the recession under Michel Temer's government and puts pressure on the Unified Health System (SUS), which will receive many more patients.
Ivan Richard Esposito - Reporter for Agência Brasil
For the fifth consecutive month, in January, health plans registered a drop in the number of beneficiaries. According to data from the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS), the total number of health plan beneficiaries in the first month of the year was 47.592.368, a decrease of 192,2 beneficiaries, or 0,4%. Since August of last year, health plans in the country have been losing clients.
Regarding exclusively dental plans, the survey conducted by ANS shows an increase of approximately 169 beneficiaries, totaling 22.209.112 users of this type of plan in January. This represents a 0,77% increase compared to the 22.040.120 who had dental plans in December of last year.
According to the ANS (National Agency for Supplementary Health), nine states showed an increase in beneficiaries of health insurance plans compared to December: Acre, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pernambuco, Piauí, Roraima, and Sergipe.
Group plans (38.007.221) lead in total health plan contracts, followed by corporate group plans (31.534.854), individual or family plans (9.364.517), and group plans by membership (6.463.205).
According to the ANS (National Agency for Supplementary Health), in January, the coverage rate of private health plans was 24,54% of the population. In total, 818 operators were active and they offered 17.786 plans.
Market leader Amil registered a 0,34% decrease in the number of beneficiaries in January. Bradesco Saúde, second in the ranking, also experienced a negative variation in the first month of the year. Hapvida, Notre Dame Intermédica Saúde, and Sul América, third, fourth, and fifth in the health plan ranking, increased their number of beneficiaries in January.