Government expects INEM funding to increase by 117 million euros

The Portuguese government anticipates that the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) will receive €313 million in insurance premiums by 2027, marking an increase of €117 million from this year. This projection is included in the explanatory note from the Ministry of Health regarding the 2027 State Budget proposal, currently under parliamentary discussion. The expected growth in funding is attributed to the anticipated expansion of mandatory insurance policies, particularly in housing and disaster risk coverage. Currently, INEM is funded by 2.5% of premiums from health, life, accident, and auto insurance in mainland Portugal. The recent organic law for INEM, effective since August, retains the existing funding model without introducing new revenue sources. Opposition parties have called for parliamentary review and proposed amendments to increase the percentage of premiums allocated to INEM.