The previously planned introduction of the two-tier system provided for a different approach to health insurance for mandatory state social insurance contributors. In the past, such a division was deemed to be biased and disproportionate, and it was postponed until 2021. The Saeima is now planning to postpone it for another year until 2022.
The amendments to the Law plan to maintain compulsory health insurance while extending the scope of persons subject to mandatory health insurance, namely all persons paying the state social insurance mandatory contributions, as well as those who do not pay them or are not subject to mandatory state health insurance.
The amendments also aim to supplement the law with new groups of individuals who will be entitled to health services without requiring state social insurance contributions. They will be the following persons residing abroad: the spouse of a person performing diplomatic and consular services, the spouse of a soldier performing duties and the spouse of the representative of Eurojust.
The amendments also provide postponing the rule where persons with a group II disability are exempted from patient co-payment.
The draft law provides for Cabinet to draw up and submit to the Saeima a draft law regarding the introduction of a single state-paid healthcare service and a comprehensive mandatory state health insurance by 30 April 2021. In the past, such a task had been assigned to the government by 31 March 2020.
