El Cruce Hospital to charge non-resident foreigners for non-emergency care

The Hospital de Alta Complejidad en Red El Cruce (HEC) has announced it will begin charging non-resident foreign citizens for healthcare services that are not classified as emergencies. This decision follows new regulations established by the Argentine Ministry of Health under Resolution 1066/2026, which implements changes to the Migration Law.

Under the new policy, non-resident foreigners seeking non-emergency medical care must provide proof of health insurance coverage or pay for the services in advance. However, the hospital clarified that foreign nationals with permanent residency will continue to access the public health system under the same conditions as Argentine citizens.

Medical emergencies remain exempt from these payment requirements. The regulation defines an emergency as any condition posing a certain and imminent risk to life, an organ, or a bodily function, or any situation requiring immediate intervention to prevent serious or irreversible damage. The hospital stated it will maintain its existing standards of quality and high-complexity care during this transition.