understand the new Prevent Senior crisis

The National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS) determined that Prevent Senior will continue to sell health plans until May 31st. Last Friday, the operator announced that it would temporarily suspend the sale of new services in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, starting this Friday (10th).

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According to the regulatory body, however, the company cannot interrupt sales today because it made the request to ANS on April 30th. There is a regulation providing that the suspension of sales can only occur after a period of 30 days, counting from the date on which the request is filed. In this case, the operator will only be able to stop sales from May 31st. Failure to comply with the decision may result in sanctions and fines.

Investigated in the pandemic

With many elderly customers, the operator had already suspended the sale of services in November 2021, when it faced accusations in the Covid-19 CPI of having used patients to test the effectiveness of drugs such as hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, even without scientific evidence.

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The investigation began after a series of complaints filed by doctors and former doctors at the company.

In February, the Public Ministry filed a new public civil action for moral damages and collective social damages committed by the health plan operator during the Covid-19 pandemic, between 2020 and October 2021, in the amount of R$940 million.

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New crisis

The new crisis began last week, when the health plan operator claimed that it needed to temporarily suspend the sale of health plans to maintain the quality of care at a time of high demand due to the outbreak of several diseases.

“In view of the outbreaks of various diseases and the increase in demand for care above normal, the measure is necessary to preserve the quality of services provided to the 580,000 beneficiaries who entrust their health to Prevent Senior”, the company said in a statement. on May 3rd.

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Operator has 580 thousand beneficiaries

When contacted, Prevent Senior reported that the health system “as widely reported, has been facing an overload in demand for care caused by outbreaks of dengue fever and seasonal diseases, which fill hospitals, emergency rooms and affect the entire system”.

The operator also said that it has more than 580 thousand beneficiaries in its portfolio, 87% over 50 years old, and that “the entry of new beneficiaries in this high demand scenario harms the quality of service for those already in the portfolio because it will increase the demand for services”.

“The operator, which has always complied with ANS standards, will continue to sell its products until May 30, 2024 and will continue to make its best efforts to provide adequate and efficient care to beneficiaries”, added the company, in the same note.