Obra Social in Argentina: how to get free health insurance in 2025

Obra Social is Argentina's mandatory health insurance system, giving members access to a broad range of medical services through the Programa Médico Obligatorio (PMO). It covers formally employed workers, the self-employed (monotributistas), pensioners and their families.

Who qualifies for Obra Social?

The following people are entitled to Obra Social coverage:

• Formally employed workers: the employer enrolls them automatically.
• Monotributistas: self-employed people and freelancers registered with AFIP.
• Pensioners and pension recipients: they may keep their existing plan or choose a new one.
• Family members of the insured: spouse, children up to 21 (or up to 25 if studying), and dependents.

Importantly, an Obra Social cannot deny service on the grounds of a person's health condition or for any other discriminatory reason.

What Obra Social covers: the Programa Médico Obligatorio (PMO)

The PMO is the mandatory list of medical services that every Obra Social and health insurer must provide. It includes:

• Medical consultations: general practitioners and specialists.
• Diagnostic tests: lab work, X-rays, ultrasounds and more.
• Hospitalization and surgery, including emergency care.
• Medication: essential drugs, including those needed for chronic conditions.
• Dental services: basic dentistry.
• Psychological and psychiatric care, including addiction treatment.
• Rehabilitation services: physiotherapy and other recovery treatments.

Under the law, PMO services are available from the moment coverage is arranged, with no waiting period.

How to enroll in Obra Social

1. Formally employed workers

The employer enrolls you in an Obra Social automatically when you are hired. You can select or switch your Obra Social by filing the appropriate request.

2. Monotributistas (self-employed)

Monotributistas can choose their Obra Social when registering with AFIP:

• Register with AFIP: obtain a CUIT and a Clave Fiscal.
• Choose an Obra Social from the list provided by the Superintendencia de Servicios de Salud.
• Pay contributions: monthly payments that include the Obra Social component.
• Submit documents to the chosen Obra Social to complete enrollment.

Note: an Obra Social cannot refuse to serve a monotributista.

3. Pensioners and pension recipients

Pensioners can:

• Keep their current Obra Social on retirement.
• Choose a new Obra Social when registering under the Monotributo scheme.

If an Obra Social refuses service, a pensioner has the right to take the matter to court to protect their rights.

Adding family members

Insured members can add the following to their Obra Social:

• A spouse or partner.
• Children up to 21 (or up to 25 if studying).
• Dependents: parents, grandchildren and others in their care.

To add them, you must provide documents proving the family relationship and dependency.

Costs and contributions

Contributions to Obra Social are as follows:

• Formally employed: 3% of wages.
• Monotributistas: a fixed amount included in the monthly payment.
• Additional contributions: 1.5% for each family member added to the plan.

If you lose your job, your Obra Social remains active for a further 3 months, provided you pay the contributions yourself.

Protecting members' rights

If an Obra Social denies service or violates an insured member's rights, you can:

• Contact the Superintendencia de Servicios de Salud, the body that regulates Obra Social plans.
• File a lawsuit: for serious violations, you can go to court to defend your rights.

It is important to know that an Obra Social has no right to deny service based on health condition, age or any other discriminatory reason.

How much goes to the health fund in 2026

An employee contributes 3% of gross salary to their health fund, and the employer adds 6%. In total 9% of salary goes to health insurance, and the money goes to the fund the employee chose rather than to the general budget. Nothing extra needs to be done: the employer pays the contributions with the other payroll charges.

Choosing a fund or private insurer from day one

Since 2024, under government decree 170/2024, an employee can choose a health fund or a private health insurer from the first day of employment and change it no more than once a year. Previously newcomers were tied to their industry's fund for the first year. Since 2025 the contributions of an employee who chose a private insurer go to it directly, without passing through a fund. Funds and private insurers are supervised by the Superintendency of Health Services.

How a foreigner joins the system, step by step

1. Obtain residence and an Argentine national ID: without them you can register neither employment nor the simplified tax regime.
2. Obtain a worker number or a tax number.
3. Get a job or register in the simplified tax regime for the self-employed: the health fund contribution is part of the monthly payment.
4. Choose a fund or private insurer and add family members.

How to get residence is covered on our Argentina residence page, and tax numbers in our article how to get tax numbers in Argentina.

What to consider before moving

• Until you have a job or simplified regime registration you have no health fund, so private insurance is needed for that period.
• Public hospitals treat patients without a fund, but since 2025 some provinces charge foreigners without permanent residence.
• A fund covers the mandatory medical programme, while a private insurer covers more for a payment on top of contributions.

Murblz specialists help with residence, tax numbers and choosing insurance for the time before your first job.

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