EsSalud, short for Seguro Social de Salud ("Social Health Insurance"), is Peru's public health insurance system. It provides healthcare coverage to formal-sector workers and their families. All employers in Peru must register their employees with EsSalud and pay contributions based on employee salaries.
Contribution Rates
Employers contribute 9% of each employee's monthly salary to EsSalud. This is entirely an employer cost — employees do not contribute to EsSalud from their salary. The minimum contribution base is the national minimum wage (Remuneración Mínima Vital). For employees with multiple employers, each employer contributes 9% of the salary they pay.
Coverage and Services
EsSalud covers medical consultations, hospitalization, surgery, maternity care, prescriptions, laboratory tests, and rehabilitation. Coverage extends to the employee's spouse and children under 18. EsSalud operates its own network of hospitals and clinics, and higher-income employees can choose a private EPS (Entidad Prestadora de Salud) for supplementary coverage.
EOR Relevance
An EOR in Peru handles EsSalud registration, monthly contribution calculations, and timely payment through the PDT-PLAME electronic filing system. The EOR also manages the interaction with EPS providers for employees who opt for supplementary private coverage.