FONASA: how to cover your family (children and spouse) with your contribution

FONASA is the fund that finances your health coverage (a mutualista or ASSE). The good part: it's not only for you — you can extend it to your family. Here's who counts as “familia a cargo” and how it's paid.

What familia a cargo means

For FONASA, your coverage can reach your children:

The BPS defines dependent children like this:

«hijos a cargo menores de 18 años o mayores con discapacidad, propios así como los del cónyuge o concubino cuando no estén amparados por sus padres biológicos o adoptivos.»

In English: dependent children under 18 or older with a disability, your own as well as those of the spouse or concubino when they aren't covered by their biological or adoptive parents.

Beyond that, the benefit reaches the spouse or concubino when they don't generate the system's coverage themselves (i.e. they don't already contribute to FONASA on their own).

How it's paid

The personal FONASA contribution varies with your pay and your family situation: those with dependent children and/or a spouse usually contribute at a higher rate than those without. The current rates are published by the BPS — worth checking to know what applies to you:

How to enroll your family

Once you're entitled, each member is enrolled with a health provider (you choose) by presenting the documents the BPS requires: for children, the Uruguayan ID (with an initial exception for minors); for a spouse or concubino, the Uruguayan document. The detail is at the BPS:

If you're a monotributista or independent

The right to FONASA and to extend it to family depends on your contribution situation (e.g. monotributo with FONASA, or personal services). Verify your specific case at the BPS before assuming family coverage.

At a glance

In short: with your FONASA contribution you can bring health coverage to your children and to a partner without their own coverage, adjusting your contribution to your situation. Check rates and requirements at the BPS.