Argentina will now charge non-resident foreigners for medical care at public hospitals following a government resolution published Tuesday [1].
This policy marks a significant shift in the country's approach to public health access, moving away from a tradition of universal free care for all visitors regardless of their nationality or residency status.
The measure was established through Resolution 1066/2026 [1], issued by the Ministry of Health under Mario Lugones. The regulation applies to all public hospitals across Argentina, including those located in the City of Buenos Aires [2, 3].
Under the new rules, foreigners who do not hold permanent residency must cover the costs of their medical treatment. However, the government said that emergency services will remain available without prior payment to ensure immediate life-saving care [1, 4]. Patients who possess private health insurance may use their coverage to settle the costs of their treatment [1].
The resolution implements modifications to the Migration Law previously introduced by DNU 366/2025 [5, 6]. The administration said the goal is to ensure that non-residents cover the expenses associated with the healthcare they receive while in the country [5, 6].
There is slight variation in reports regarding the exact start date of the policy. Some reports indicate the measure took effect on Tuesday, Aug. 11 [7], while others state it began on Wednesday, Aug. 12 [8].
This regulatory change follows a broader pattern of fiscal adjustments by the administration of Javier Milei to reduce public spending, and restructure state-funded services.
“Argentina will now charge non-resident foreigners for medical care at public hospitals”
This policy represents a move toward a 'user-pays' model for non-residents, aligning healthcare access with residency status. By linking this to DNU 366/2025, the Milei administration is integrating health policy with migration control to reduce the financial burden on the national treasury.
