Andorra's CASS Reports €34.7M General Branch Deficit for 2025

The Caixa Andorrana de Seguretat Social (CASS) closed 2025 with a 34.7 million euro deficit in its general branch, driven by higher spending on healthcare and economic benefits despite rising contributions.

Total income for the general branch reached 201.7 million euros, up 7.5% from 2024, including 180.5 million euros from employee and self-employed contributions and 21.2 million euros tied to economic benefits. Expenses, however, climbed 7.7% to 236.4 million euros. Healthcare payouts rose 6.6% to 151.9 million euros, while benefits such as sick leave, invalidity pensions, and orphan's pensions increased 9.6% to 84.5 million euros. The deficit exceeded initial projections of 33.11 million euros.

Affiliate numbers grew amid economic expansion. Employees totaled 51,539 at year-end, a 2.2% rise from December 2024, with self-employed workers up 6.8% to 9,321. Indirect insured individuals numbered 18,588, up 1%, but general branch pensioners fell 6% to 2,461, including 2,149 on invalidity, 311 on orphan's pensions, and one on ancestor reversion.

In contrast, the retirement branch recorded a 29.4 million euro surplus, beating budgeted figures. Contributions brought in 220.6 million euros overall, with 207.7 million euros from employees and self-employed (up 8.1%), plus 6 million euros from economic benefits and 6.9 million euros in government transfers for non-contributory pensions. Expenses totaled 191.2 million euros, up 10.9%, including 184.3 million euros on contributory pensions (up 11.4%) and 6.9 million euros on non-contributory ones (down 1.9%). Pensioners rose 4.7% to 18,522, comprising 16,829 retirees, 3,626 widowers (71 temporary), and 14 retirement lump sums. The dependency ratio stood at 3.14 active insured per retiree, down 2% from 2024.

These results follow approval of the 2025 financial statements by the CASS board, now forwarded to the government. Meanwhile, elections on 17 June will renew the board, ending a term marked by achievements and challenges. Outgoing employee representatives Jacqueline Caubet and Montserrat Martínez highlighted improvements like expanded coverage for indirect insured up to age 25, widowhood benefits without recent contributions, full reimbursement for certain conditions, and enhanced ophthalmology and hearing aid provisions. They also noted better funeral expense coverage across ages and healthcare access for students abroad, soon extending to Madrid via an Asisa agreement.

Persistent issues include delayed rollout of universal third-party payer system, pledged by Head of Government Xavier Espot for 2023. Martínez called it essential amid economic pressures, citing cases where people skip tests due to upfront costs. Caubet pointed to an invalidity pension scandal exposing control gaps, prompting fixes, and urged administrative digitalization, better chronic illness care, and improved communication.