Concern is growing among Muface officials about the future of their health.

Concerns are growing among officials at Muface, the General Mutuality of Civil State Officials, due to the uncertainty surrounding its future. Since the bidding process to renew the agreement with private insurers was declared void on November 5, one and a half million officials find themselves in a state of distress and misinformation. The uncertainty intensifies as the January 31 deadline approaches, when, if no agreement is reached, mutual members may be forced to return to the public health system. The statements from some affected individuals reflect this anxiety. Sandra Nombela, a 45-year-old primary school teacher who has faced a cancer diagnosis, expresses her discomfort over the lack of clear information about what will happen to her medical coverage. "We are in a limbo where no one tells us anything," she says, detailing her multiple medical appointments and the complexity of her treatment. For many like her, the prospect of losing access to their private insurance means a return to a system plagued by bottlenecks and waiting lists. The situation has led many officials to question their medical future. Miguel Ángel García, a high school teacher with a bowel disease that requires surgery, voices his fear that the lack of an agreement could prolong his condition and limit his access to timely treatments. The distress of these officials is exacerbated by the average age of mutual members, which hovers around 57 years, with 38.3% of them already retired. This aging of the mutualist population has increased the demands from insurers, who argue that the costs of medical care are rising. Meanwhile, the government has attempted to revive negotiations by offering a new bidding process with a premium increase of up to 33.5%. However, insurers still believe this proposal does not cover the increase in costs they have experienced. This dilemma has created tensions within the government itself, with the Ministry of Health advocating for the integration of mutual members into the public health system, while other sectors of the government seek to maintain the current system. The creation of Muface in 1975 was designed as a solution to alleviate the burden on public health care, allowing officials to access private insurance. However, the situation has changed drastically, and the sustainability of the system is at stake. According to a report, the estimated cost to the state per person in public health care is 1,608 euros, while the average Muface premium is 1,014 euros. This difference of 594 euros has been a key point of discussion, highlighting the need to reevaluate the system. In light of this situation, unions have taken a crucial role in defending the maintenance of Muface. The Independent and Civil Servants Union (Csif) has mobilized workers, organizing demonstrations and threatening strikes if an agreement is not reached. "It's a right we have as public sector workers," declares Rocio Díaz Conde, a Csif representative, emphasizing the importance of mutuality as a means to relieve pressure on public health care. The voices of discontented officials continue to resonate. Miguel Rodríguez, a 62-year-old prison officer, denounces the lack of recognition he feels for being considered privileged for having access to Muface. "I have contributed for over 30 years. I am not privileged; I have simply paid for a service," he asserts firmly, bringing to the table a broader discussion about equity in access to health care. The Muface dilemma also resonates with those nearing retirement, such as Concha Martínez, a 60-year-old teacher. Despite her concern about access to the medical treatments she needs, she also reflects on the privilege that being part of Muface has meant. "Social Security should be managed differently, but I would see a change in the system as good because it is a privilege we have had all our lives," she confesses, illustrating the complexity of this situation. As the deadline approaches, uncertainty among Muface officials intensifies. The lack of clear communication and the absence of a contingency plan have left many in a state of anxiety, questioning how to proceed if the mutualist system disappears. As the debate about the viability of the public health system intensifies, the possibility of transferring Muface patients to public health care raises additional concerns about the system's capacity to absorb one and a half million new users. In this context, the coming weeks will be crucial not only for the future of Muface but also for the well-being of many officials who depend on this system. Pressure on the government and insurers will increase, and how this crisis is resolved could have significant repercussions on health access for thousands of people. The expectation for a positive outcome hangs in the balance as officials await news that could determine the course of their medical care in the coming years.