16 years ago Aruba took an important step with the introduction of health insurance for the entire population, functioning independitly from the government. In 2001 AZV became the first national health insurer in the kingdom, The Netherlands followed suit in 2006.
The national ordenance (law) AZV that is being executed by the Executive Body AZV was approved unanimely by Parliament on February 13, 1992. With the implementation of AZV in 2001, all things care related were brought together under one roof. Employers, employees, health care providers and private insurers they all had a say in the establishment of AZV. Before the AZV was implemented there were diferent health care plans with diferent coverage and insfficient acces for specic parts of the population.
Since 2001 a lot has changed. New types of medical care were introduced and existing ones like dlialysis and revalidation were expended. San Nicolas got a new medical facility (link ImSan) and at this moment the dr Horacio Oduber Hospital in Oranjestad (link HOH) is being renewed and expanded.
AZV is funded in three different ways. By premium, Government contribution and BAZV.
Premium
People pay a premium based on their salary. An employee pays 1,6% of their gross salary and the employer 8,9% of this sum. Persons with a pension pay the whole 10,5% themselves.
Government contribution
A fixed sum of fiscal contribution that at the end of the year, if necessary, will be followed by a additional fiscal contribution.
BAZV
The 1st of December 2014 the government started to collect 1% of ‘health tax’ on every item or product bought in Aruba in order to nance the AZV fund and decrease the government contribution.
Main charasteristics of the AZV are:
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Universal access
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Equality of care
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Solidarity
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Financing by payroll-taxes and fiscal contribution |
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Single Payer contracting with private providers
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Better cost-control and quality-assurance
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