CASS Board Approves 2025 Accounts: €34.7M General Deficit, €29.4M Retirement Surplus

The CASS board of directors approved the 2025 financial accounts on Monday, recording a €34.7 million deficit in the general branch and a €29.4 million surplus in the retirement branch, exceeding initial projections of €17 million for the latter.

In the general branch, revenues increased 7.5% to €201.7 million, comprising €180.5 million from salaried workers and self-employed contributors alongside €21.2 million from economic benefit contributions. Expenses rose 7.7% to €236.4 million, including €151.9 million on healthcare (up 6.6%) and €84.5 million on sickness, disability, and orphan benefits (up 9.6%).

The retirement branch saw revenues climb 8.1% to €220.6 million, from €207.7 million in contributions, €6 million from economic benefits, and €6.9 million in government transfers for non-contributory pensions. Total expenses reached €191.2 million, a 10.9% rise, with €184.3 million for contributory pensions (up 11.4%) and €6.9 million for non-contributory ones (down 1.9%).

Affiliate figures grew by year-end: 51,539 salaried workers (up 3.4% annually, or 2.2% from December 2024), 9,321 self-employed (up 6.8%), and 18,588 indirect insured (up 1%). General branch pensioners fell 6% to 2,461, mostly 2,149 disability cases, 311 orphan pensions, and one reversion. Retirement pensioners rose 4.7% to 18,522, including 16,829 standard retirees, 3,626 widowhood cases (71 temporary), and 14 retirement capitals. The dependency ratio slipped to 3.14 active insured per retirement pensioner, down 2% from 2024.

These accounts precede board elections on June 17 to replace outgoing members. Jacint Risco (retirees), Jacqueline Caubet (wage earners, for personal reasons), and Francesc Zamora (employers) will not stand again after two terms, while Montserrat Martínez (wage earners) intends to seek re-election.

Martínez prioritised a universal third-party payer system, a commitment from Head of Government Xavier Espot in a 2023 letter linked to a General Council agreement. With the legislative term ending, she highlighted the lack of progress, calling it essential amid economic pressures where some affiliates forgo tests due to upfront payments. If re-elected, she plans to push the reform and other improvements, acting as wage earner representatives across branches.

Over the mandate, achievements included extending indirect insured coverage to age 25, widowhood benefits without recent contributions, 100% reimbursements for specific conditions, and enhanced ophthalmology and hearing aid services. Death expenses now apply across all ages for active or pensioned contributors, though low awareness leads some to overpay private providers, Caubet noted. She cited the disability pension issues as the mandate's lowest point, revealing internal control gaps that prompted immediate procedural fixes.

Remaining challenges encompass full digitisation to eliminate paper forms, improved chronic disease management, better insured communication, and overseas student healthcare. Barcelona providers are accessible online, with a Madrid expansion via Asisa nearing completion after legal review.