Ljubljana - The government endorsed at a correspondence session on Wednesday the financial plan of the public Health Insurance Institute (ZZZS) for 2022, which projects a shortfall of revenue over expenditure of around EUR 149 million. The ZZZS's expenditure in 2022 is planned at EUR 3.72 billion, an increase of EUR 215.7 million or 6.2% compared to 2021.

The ZZZS plans to cover the deficit of EUR 148.9 million from the surpluses of past years.

It will also use all the funds from the reserve fund set up in 2021, which amount to EUR 35.3 million, the government said in a press release.

The financial plan was approved by the ZZZS's general assembly at the end of last year, which warned that a challenging year was expected due to the epidemic and that long-term resources would need to be secured to cover the increased expenditure.

The ZZZS explained at the time that the financial plan was based on data on the ZZZS's operations from January to October 2021 and that it took into account the autumn economic forecast of the Government Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development.

The ZZZS's plan envisages EUR 39.2 million lower revenue than last year because it does not yet include the planned transfer of budget funds to cover the epidemic-related costs, which is envisaged by the Covid emergency law passed in December 2021.