The so-called "mutual playpen" will open from 1 to 27 February for those who were affiliated for seven years or more to the same provider. This is guaranteed by the executive decree issued on Tuesday and which regulates the annual period of mutual change.

The main change from the year 2009, first time this was applied, in this opening is that the required period of membership declines from 10 to 7 years.

Those interested in changing their mutual and that meet that requirement must appear personally at the offices of providers they wish to opt for. It has to be a provider integrated to the National Integrated Health System (SNIS). Having made the change, users must remain for at least three years in the new provider. Meet that deadline, they may switch again if they want to. During this period, mutual can also be changed for those from the Social Welfare Bank, that were automatically assigned membership in the Management of State Health Services (ASSE).

In February 2008, it was first allowed the relaxation of “mutual playpen”. At that time 200,000 people could have changed their mutual but only 20,164 did so.

(www.180.com.uy, 20 January 2010)