Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5) — State health insurer PhilHealth is postponing the increase in member contributions this year, in a bid to ease the financial burden on the public amid the pandemic.
PhilHealth on Tuesday said, in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to delay the hike, “PhilHealth will still collect premiums from direct contributors using the 3% instead of the 3.5% contributions rate.”
PhilHealth added that this arrangement would be in place until Congress passes a law allowing the deferment of the scheduled adjustment.
“Should there be no new legislation passed for this purpose, the state health insurer will proceed with the scheduled premium rate and ceiling as provided for in the UHC (Universal Health Care) law,” it added.
On Monday, the President said “not now” to the scheduled increase in PhilHealth premiums.
“May I suggest to the PhilHealth chairman, si Dante Gierran…huwag muna ngayon [not now]. No increase in contributions. I will look for the money to fill it up,” he said, adding it was the government’s job to make people’s lives easier “at this time.”
Congress backs deferment of contribution increase
Lawmakers from both houses of Congress backed the deferment of the increase in PhilHealth contributions.
Joint Resolution No. 33 was filed on Tuesday seeking to defer the hike. It said, “The rough estimate is that PhilHealth would be postponing less than P500 million worth of incremental premiums on an annual basis from direct contributors, which is certainly a big reprieve for PhilHealth members who have lost their jobs during the pandemic.”
The resolution added that the agency could tap into its reserve funds in the meantime.
A separate resolution filed by Senators Grace Poe, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Joel Villanueva pointed out that PhilHealth has been involved in irregularities and “rampant corruption through the years.”
Senate Bill No 1968 said, “The goals of the UHC (Universal Health Care) Act and the NHIP (National Health Insurance Program) are indeed desirable but the planned increase is uncalled for amid pending cases of irregularity that the state health insurer has yet to resolve.”
The bill also said given the struggles amid the COVID-19 pandemic, such a raise was “untimely and onerous.”
Meanwhile, Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Quimbo filed House Bill 8300 to grant Duterte power to suspend the increase in premiums.
She said, “The Universal Health Care Law that provided for the premium hike was enacted in 2019 and so it did not foresee a pandemic battering the country this year. Hirap ang tao ngayong may pandemya. Kailangang pagaanin ng pamahalaan ang hirap ng mamamayan. Dapat ding nakalapat ang batas sa pangangailangan at kakayahan ng tao.”
[Translation: People are suffering right now because of the pandemic. The government has to ease the burden of the people. The law should also recognize the needs and capabilities of the people.]
Senator Imee Marcos also filed Senate Bill 1966 on Monday, seeking to suspend the increase in PhilHealth contributions.
Asked if the bill should be pursued, she said, “Yes sana icertify urgent ASAP. Sa laki ng inuutang natin, kayang-kaya punuin ang inaasahang pagtaas ng PhilHealth premium. Higit sa lahat wala ngang napapalang maayos na serbisyo ngayon, maaasahan ba natin gaganda kapag itinaas ang singil? Give us reason to believe in PhilHealth first, before increasing premiums yet again!”
[Translation: Yes, I hope it is certified urgent ASAP. The amount we borrowed can fill the expected hike in PhilHealth premiums. Most of all, people are finding it difficult to expect good service these days, would it improve if they pay more? Give us reason to believe in PhilHealth first, before increasing premiums yet again.]
