The proposal of private insurers to the competition for the renewal of health care for civil servants via Muface poses an unprecedented scenario: on December 31, the contract with Adeslas, Asisa and DKV ends and, for the moment, neither these nor other companies want to take charge. covering one and a half million civil servants with their beneficiaries. Or, at least, to do it under the conditions proposed by the Ministry of Public Service and which represent, as indicated by the department led by Óscar López, the highest increase in the first of the historic series, with an increase of 17 .12%.
For the moment, Muface indicated in the only public communication since Tuesday that “medical care and assistance will be maintained under current conditions” and that “work will begin for a new call for tenders”. The current conditions are in effect because civil servants who opt for private insurance continue to have access to this service and the calendar limits the time for a new call for tenders. It is for this reason that different sources explain that the ministry is “considering extending the contract”.
The agreement in force, published in the Official Journal of December 24, 2021, guaranteed coverage from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024. The specifications already provided that “if the entity did not subscribe with Muface a new concert for the year “”
And after? Muface indicated on Tuesday that it would guarantee “the continuity of health services in accordance with the mechanisms provided for by the law on public sector contracts”. The rule envisages the possibility of extending contracts unilaterally by the administration “when at the expiration of a contract the new contract which guarantees the continuity of the service has not been formalized” for “a maximum period of nine months , without modifying the remaining conditions. In other words, insurers would be obliged to continue providing the service with the premium they accepted in 2021, without the increase proposed by the Public Service for the period 2025-2026.
This scenario would in no way be preferred by either party. In fact, the ministry is working on a new call for tenders with which it hopes to attract companies. Sources in the sector say they are waiting for this new offer in which, in addition to financing, which they consider “fundamental”, other keys can be touched that improve what, in their opinion, unbalances the system, such as coverage or the high average age of civil servant portfolios. Precisely, with the public job offers which will be resolved in the coming months, the government is already planning a reduction in this average age. “We will have to consider the proposal as a whole,” indicate these sources.
From the Independent Trade Union and Civil Service Center (CSIF), they believe that a forced extension would mean a “legal disorder which does not suit anyone” and regret the “uncertainty” in which mutualists are mired. This union has called for demonstrations on November 11 in front of the doors of government sub-delegations and in front of the Ministry of Finance.
For the moment, the General Management of Muface has summoned the unions to an emergency meeting, this Thursday, November 7. The meeting promises to be tense because the organizations have the feeling that “the social part has been left aside” of the work. “The story is not going to be calm at all,” indicate CCOO sources, who hope that the ministry has an ace up its sleeve, in the form of an extension to put pressure on companies or other solutions are proposed.
The agreement approved by the Council of Ministers at the beginning of October for 2025 and 2026, which the insurers rejected, amounts to a total amount of more than 1,337 million euros for the first year and 1,345 for the second, with an increase half-yearly total. of 304 million euros compared to the last year of validity of the previous concert.
“We consider that the conditions established in the call for tenders are insufficient and do not make it possible to maintain the current quality of care. Despite our firm desire to maintain the link with Muface, the lack of adequate funding as well as more demanding coverage in certain aspects than those provided by the National Health System (SNS) itself and the decision of the rest of the entities to abandon “The service to this mutual, it is impossible for ASISA to maintain its adherence to the model without seriously endangering our solvency”, indicated this company which currently serves some 364,000 people.
Adeslas, who currently serves more than half a million mutual members, also refused to participate in Muface’s concert under current conditions, even if he will attend the one which brings together justice officials (Mugeju) and the military ( Isfas). DKV, which currently serves around 200,000 people, indicated on its X account that, “in the current circumstances”, it believes it cannot offer “the level of quality of care that mutualists deserve”.
