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Retiree discount bill clears the Assembly

The Asamblea Nacional approved Bill 746 in third debate on Friday 30 October 2026, with 50 votes in favour, La Prensa reported. The bill rewrites parts of Law 6 of 1987 on benefits for retirees, pensioners and older adults. It now goes to President José Raúl Mulino for sanction or objection.

Who would qualify

  • Panamanian and foreign permanent residents: women from age 55 and men from age 60 (La Prensa).
  • All retirees and pensioners, regardless of age (La Prensa).
  • The package moved through three debates in under a month after presentation on 6 October by PRD deputy Javier Sucre (La Prensa). Second debate on 27 October had 54 votes in favour (La Prensa).

Main benefit changes in the approved text

  • Medicines: discount rises from 10% to 20%, with a medical prescription in the beneficiary's name. Over-the-counter items stay out (La Prensa). The original draft sought 25%.
  • Cancer care: 30% on procedures, therapies, oncology medicines and related supplies (La Prensa).
  • Other health discounts in the La Prensa rundown: general and specialty consultations 25%; lab exams 20%; radiology 30%; optometry and ophthalmology 15%; assistive equipment (prostheses, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, hospital beds and similar) 20%; basic home adaptations such as ramps and support bars 15%.
  • Adult diapers: 20% discount, plus exemption from ITBMS and import tax, same as colostomy bags and urinary catheters (added in second debate, La Prensa).
  • Funerary services: 25% on coffins and funeral services; residential garbage fee (tasa de aseo): 20% (La Prensa).
  • Restaurants keep a 25% discount, but it no longer applies in fondas. Minsa public health facilities and health-committee services are outside the discount scope (La Prensa).

Enforcement, timing and veto risk

  • Merchants must show the regular price and the discounted price together. Acodeco can fine $50 to $5,000, doubling on each repeat offence, with proceeds going to the Special Fund for Retirees and Pensioners (La Prensa).
  • The original Ampyme reimbursement fund and transferable tax-credit ideas were stripped in first debate. Businesses may still deduct granted discounts from income tax, as today (La Prensa).
  • Mulino previously objected in full to earlier Bill 226 that also reworked Law 6. La Prensa says the new text was shaped around that objection and technical-table agreements (La Prensa).
  • The Executive has 30 business days to sanction or object. If it becomes law, it takes effect six months after publication in the Gaceta Oficial (La Prensa).

What it means for expats

  • Permanent-resident retirees and older adults are explicitly in the beneficiary class. This is one of the clearest COL bills for the pensioner expat audience this month.
  • Nothing at the pharmacy counter changes this weekend. Sanction, possible objection, Gaceta publication and a six-month delay still sit ahead.
  • Keep proof of permanent residency or pensioner status handy if the law lands, and expect pharmacies and clinics to need time to reprice displays.
  • Watch the Mulino clock. A prior full objection on a related bill is the main political risk called out by La Prensa.

Sources

  • La Prensa - Assembly approves Bill 746 retiree discount changes in third debate - 30 Oct 2026
  • La Prensa - Bill 746 second debate (54 votes; diaper add-on) - 27 Oct 2026
  • TVN - Session order: budget third debate, then retiree discounts third debate - 30 Oct 2026
  • LeyClara - Bill 746 tracking (status may lag media) - fetched 31 Oct 2026 Asia/Seoul

Correction, 3 Nov 2026: The law as published (Law 562, Gaceta Oficial 30647) sets 57 for women and 62 for men for foreign permanent residents, and does not require a prescription for over-the-counter medicines. See New retiree discounts start in May 2027.