WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s basic health insurance fund, BVZ, recorded a sharp rise in medical costs in 2025, with expenses increasing by 9.5 percent to XCG 654.2 million, according to the SVB annual report.
The largest increase came from intramural institutions, where costs rose by XCG 29.6 million, or 19 percent. Average medical costs per insured person also increased, from XCG 4,327 in 2024 to XCG 4,785 in 2025.
SVB reports that the BVZ fund had 136,801 insured persons at the end of 2025, compared to 136,390 a year earlier. Premium income reached XCG 367.8 million, up 4.6 percent from 2024, while the government contribution to the BVZ amounted to XCG 291.2 million.
The report points specifically to Curaçao Medical Center as a major cost factor. CMC’s BVZ budget increased by more than XCG 31 million, or 18 percent, compared to 2024. SVB says the approved BVZ institutional budget for CMC was XCG 206.4 million, excluding approximately XCG 22 million in costs for medical specialists employed by CMC.
SVB says continued cost control remains necessary, especially because Curaçao has a limited premium base and an aging population that is increasing demand for care.