Question from Medellin
Experience with SURA Colombia
Hello everyone, I wanted to thank you for your support and advice in my search for an EPS that would accept me regardless of my age. Your help has been invaluable and has made me feel very grateful. I also want to highlight the importance of the service you offer to foreigners like me, which helps us feel at home in this wonderful country. Thank you very much for everything. You’re the best!
It seems you’re referring to President Gustavo Petro of Colombia and a conflict involving SURA, a major insurance company in Colombia, rather than "Petron" or "sir." The confusion likely stems from the similar-sounding names. Based on the context and available information, the issue likely relates to Petro’s health care reforms and the government’s intervention in the health insurance sector, particularly involving EPS SURA, a health insurance provider under the Suramericana group. Below is a clear and concise explanation of the issue, its status, and whether it’s still ongoing, focusing on Petro and SURA.The Issue: Petro’s Health Reforms and Conflict with EPS SURABackground: President Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president elected in 2022, has pushed for sweeping reforms to the country’s health care system, aiming to reduce the role of private health insurers (Entidades Promotoras de Salud, or EPS) like SURA and shift toward a state-controlled model. His administration argues that private EPS entities have mismanaged funds and prioritized profits over patient care, leading to inefficiencies and inequities in the health system.Conflict with SURA: In 2024, Petro’s government intervened in several EPS entities, including EPS SURA, one of Colombia’s largest health insurers. The intervention was part of a broader effort to address alleged financial and operational failures in the EPS system. Specifically:In May 2024, EPS SURA announced its intention to withdraw from Colombia’s health system, citing financial unsustainability due to insufficient government funding and regulatory pressures from Petro’s reforms. SURA claimed it faced losses of approximately $135 million annually and could not continue operating under the existing framework.The government’s Superintendency of Health ordered administrative interventions in multiple EPS entities, including SURA, to oversee their operations and ensure continuity of service. This was seen by critics as a move toward nationalizing health care, which Petro’s administration has denied.The intervention sparked tensions, as SURA and other private insurers argued that the government’s actions were undermining their ability to operate, while Petro’s administration accused EPS entities of mismanagement and corruption.Turmoil: The conflict led to public and political backlash:Public Reaction: Many Colombians, particularly SURA’s 1.4 million affiliates, expressed concern over potential disruptions in health care access. Protests and media coverage highlighted fears that the government’s interventions could destabilize the system.Industry Response: SURA and other EPS entities criticized the government’s reforms as poorly planned, warning that forcing private insurers out could collapse the health system. The Colombian Association of Insurance Companies (Fasecolda) also voiced concerns about the financial strain on insurers.Political Opposition: Petro’s opponents accused him of using interventions to consolidate power and push a socialist agenda, while supporters argued he was addressing systemic inequities.Connection to Broader Reforms: The SURA conflict is tied to Petro’s failed health reform bill, which was rejected by Congress in 2024. After the bill’s failure, the government resorted to administrative interventions to enforce changes, escalating tensions with private insurers like SURA.Key Developments in 2025Constitutional Court Ruling on EPS Sanitas (Related Case): In June 2025, Colombia’s Constitutional Court overturned the government’s takeover of EPS Sanitas, another major insurer owned by Keralty SAS, citing violations of due process. The court ordered the government to return Sanitas to its shareholders and reinstate its governing bodies. This ruling set a precedent that could affect other interventions, including SURA’s, as it highlighted legal limits to Petro’s health sector interventions.SURA’s Status: EPS SURA began a progressive withdrawal from the health system in 2024, transferring its affiliates to other EPS entities or public health providers. By Penal institutions were forced to accept patients from other EPS entities, including SURA, with an estimated cost of $1.5 trillion pesos (approximately $350 million USD) to the government for managing this transition. The process was still ongoing as of mid-2024, with no clear resolution by July 2025.Petro’s Response: Petro has defended the interventions as necessary to protect public health and accused private EPS entities of prioritizing profits over care. He has continued to push for a state-led health system, though his reforms face significant resistance in Congress and the courts.Is It Still Happening?Ongoing Status (as of July 2025):The conflict between Petro’s administration and EPS SURA remains unresolved. SURA’s withdrawal process is ongoing, with the government overseeing the transfer of its affiliates to other providers. The Constitutional Court’s ruling on Sanitas (June 2025) has raised questions about the legality of SURA’s intervention, but no specific court ruling on SURA has been reported in the available data.The broader tension between Petro’s government and private insurers persists, as his administration continues to push for health system reforms while facing legal and political challenges. The transfer of SURA’s affiliates and the financial implications (e.g., government funding to cover debts) remain a point of contention.Public and industry debates continue, with SURA and other insurers warning of systemic risks, while Petro’s supporters argue the interventions are correcting long-standing inequities.Recent Sentiment: Posts on X reflect ongoing public frustration, with some accusing Petro of mishandling the health sector by favoring private insurers’ interests early in his term, only to later intervene aggressively, causing instability.SummaryThe turmoil involves President Gustavo Petro’s intervention in EPS SURA and other private health insurers as part of his push to reform Colombia’s health system. SURA’s attempted withdrawal in 2024, citing financial losses, led to government oversight, sparking public and political backlash over potential disruptions in care. The issue is ongoing, with SURA’s affiliates still being transferred and legal challenges (like the Sanitas ruling) complicating Petro’s reforms. The debate over private vs. public control.
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