The government of Argentine President Javier Milei has regulated measures restricting foreigners' access to the country's public healthcare. The new rule, already in effect, establishes that foreigners without permanent residency in Argentina must pay for non-urgent care at national public hospitals.
The measure directly affects institutions such as Hospital de Posadas, located on the border with Encarnación, Paraguay, an important access point for Paraguayans. According to cited official data, non-resident foreigners represent approximately 6% of total care in the Argentine public health system.
The legal basis for the change is a modification of Argentina's Migration Law, approved in late May. The rule maintains free access for permanent residents, who must prove their immigration status. For non-residents, there are two paths: if they have health insurance, the hospital may bill the insurer for the cost; otherwise, payment must be made in advance of the consultation or procedure.
Authorities have guaranteed that emergency care will remain universal, regardless of immigration status. As defined by the Ministry of Health, led by Mario Lugones, situations involving "certain and imminent risk to life" are covered, such as heart attacks, strokes, severe trauma, massive hemorrhages, and obstetric or pediatric emergencies.
However, once the critical phase of the emergency has passed, subsequent care may be charged to the patient or their insurer. The resolution unifies the procedure for national hospitals and establishes rules for cost recovery. To prove permanent residency, foreigners must present their valid physical National Identity Card (DNI). In case of loss or pending renewal, a digital certificate issued by the National Directorate of Migration is accepted.
The decision had already been implemented previously in provinces such as Salta, Jujuy, Mendoza, Santa Cruz, and Buenos Aires. Now, the measure extends to national health centers, including besides Hospital de Posadas, Baldomero Sommer, Ramón Carrillo, the National Institute of Psychophysical Rehabilitation of the South, and Laura Bonaparte. Hospitals with shared management, such as the pediatric Garrahan Hospital, must approve their own billing procedures through their administrative boards.