Annex Signed for Faster and More Efficient Data Exchange between the HIF and the PRO
The Public Revenue Office (PRO) and the Health Insurance Fund (HIF), led by Directors Elena Petrova and Sasho Klekovski, signed an annex to the Protocol on electronic data exchange.
This annex is the first since the signing of the original Protocol in 2012 and represents a significant step after a pause of 13 years, advances cooperation between the institutions and brings direct benefits for citizens.
Key benefits:
- Timely updating of data on unpaid contributions
Monthly delivery of data on unpaid health insurance contributions, individually by obligors for calculation and payment, as well as by obligors for payment. (Until now, data were received only on paid contributions). The data are provided from submitted and unpaid calculations by legal entities, self-employed persons, individual farmers and religious officials.
This will ensure timely information and updating of data that will prevent unannounced interruptions in health insurance. Due to errors and differences in payments, the system automatically terminates health insurance, which insured persons discover when they attempt to use health services.
- Resolving old debts
Annual delivery of data on uncollected and time-barred receivables for collected contributions will be established. These data will be delivered no later than 31 January for the previous year.
This will ensure the annual write-off of time-barred claims (over 10 years) and will resolve the problem of insured persons who have time-barred obligations and are now regular payers. Until now, they could not obtain health insurance due to the requirement for continuity in payment.
- Integration with “e-Taxes”
The Fund will receive real-time data on income (Certificates of income earned for the previous year) for persons who wish to register with the Fund as persons with lower income for whom the contribution is paid by the Ministry of Health.
This is the first step in preventing abuse of this right to health insurance. Until now, the right was exercised by self-declaration.
These changes provide faster, more transparent and more accessible services, reducing bureaucratic barriers for citizens. The HIF and the PRO continue with digitalisation for more efficient administration for the benefit of all.
