Did you know that you can continue making contributions to the IMSS even if you’ve stopped working for a company? There’s an option called Modality 40, which allows you to keep contributing money toward your future pension, but there’s a new development: the cost increased in 2026.
This year, the reference contribution rate increased from 13.347% to 14.438% of the salary you choose to contribute based on, for salaries exceeding four UMA. In other words, you’ll now have to pay a little more to maintain this benefit.
What is IMSS Modality 40, and how much will it cost in 2026?
Imagine you worked for several years at a company, but you quit or lost your job. Even if you no longer have an employer to pay your contributions, Modality 40 allows you to continue making contributions on your own.
Of course, it’s not free. The amount you pay depends on the salary you choose to report to the IMSS.
For example, if you contribute based on a base salary of $20,000 per month, you would pay approximately $2,888 per month in 2026, assuming a 30-day period.
To enroll, you must meet certain requirements:
- You must have made contributions for at least 52 weeks during the five years prior to your separation from employment.
- You are not currently employed by an employer who has you registered with the IMSS.
- Apply for enrollment before five years have passed since you left your job.
The registration process is free, and you can complete it online or at an IMSS branch office.
Does Modality 40 work the same for everyone?
No, and here’s the important part: it depends on when you started making contributions to the IMSS.
If you started working before July 1, 1997, you fall under Law 73. In this case, Modality 40 can help you improve your pension because it allows you to add weeks and increase the average salary used to calculate it.
But if you started making contributions after that date, you fall under Law 97, like most millennials.
In the latter case, your pension depends mainly on the money you’ve accumulated in your Afore account. That’s why Modality 40 allows you to continue adding weeks and contributions to your savings, but it doesn’t increase your pension by calculating your average salary over the last few years.
As an additional note, it’s important to know that Modality 40 does not include medical coverage, so enrolling does not automatically restore your IMSS health care benefits.
