Mandatory health insurance premium raised

Effective from 2009, the mandatory health insurance premium will rise from 6 percent to 7 percent of one's monthly payroll. Contributions will be split evenly between the employer and the employee, that is, 3.5 percent each, Info-Prim Neo reports. The cost of the health insurance policy for the unemployed will be 2,637.6 lei, as compared to 1,893 lei in 2008. Those who will purchase it in the first three months will enjoy a 50 percent discount. The budget of the 2009 mandatory health insurance fund, in the version adopted Wednesday by the Cabinet, provides for incomes and expenses of 3.47 billion lei, up 31.6 percent on this year. The increase in incomes will be fueled by an increment in the average monthly salary planned for 2009 as well as by marketing efforts targeting individuals. Expenses of the National Health Insurance Corporation will also increase by about 30 percent to raise funding for compensated medication and improve disease prevention efforts among the insured. In a press release, the National Employers' Confederation objected to the move, arguing that a one-percent raise is not necessary, since a rise in salaries will anyway bring higher incomes to the national health insurance fund.