Rabat – A quarter of Moroccans still don’t have medical insurance, according to a report by the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE). At the same time, experts say the number of insured is above global standards.
There’s been big progress in recent years, though. In 2024, 4 in 5 Moroccans reported to have medical insurance. That’s up from less than 3 out of 4 in 2020. Better laws and systems helped make this happen.
Morocco has several insurance plans, and these have expanded since the government made a big push to develop health insurance in 2020. The plan aims to include everyone – especially low-income groups – with new systems created to make it easier for people to join.
AMO-Tadamon is for people who can’t pay fees for their medical care. This plan covers medicine, private doctor visits, hospital stays, and ensures public hospital visits are free.
AMO for Workers, on the other hand, is for self-employed workers and small business owners, while AMO-General is for anyone unable to register in any of the other plans.
But there remain problems. Out of 8.5 million uninsured, 5 million aren’t signed up. Another 3.5 million are signed up but don’t receive benefits.
Even those insured pay half of their medical costs out of pocket. That’s twice what the World Health Organization recommends. Many skip treatment because it’s too expensive, and they simply can’t afford it.
Meanwhile, some insurance programs are financially struggling. The AMO-Tadamon plan is stable, but others are losing money. For example, the self-employed workers’ plan has a 72% deficit.
Additionally, most health spending goes to private clinics, not public hospitals. As private care can cost five times more than public care, this puts pressure on the system’s finances.
In addition to expanding healthcare plan options, the government has also worked on improving hospitals and making public healthcare more accessible.
Still, fixing these financial issues that the CESE report highlights is vital.
Moroccans deserve to have fair, affordable, and sustainable medical insurance. As the country continues to develop in other capacities, a focus on citizens’ well-being is key.
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