PhilHealth suspends collections amid crisis, as OFWs protest new premium rates
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said Monday it has temporarily suspended all collections amid the coronavirus disease pandemic that had held back several jobs in the country, and as thousands of Filipino workers abroad protested the new premium rates imposed by the state health insurer.
PhilHealth President Ricardo Morales said the agency had moved for the suspension of collections considering that some Filipinos are not receiving their monthly salaries following the halt in work in other sectors, or make payments optional for those who are able to pay.
“We have declared a moratorium already on collections, all collections, hindi lang sa OFW (overseas Filipino workers) kundi lahat, pati ‘yung mga nandito (not just for OFWs but for everyone including those who are here), flexible payment scheme,” he said in an interview with DZMM.
“Pero meron pa rin nagtatanong paano sila makakabayad, so hindi namin announce na moratorium kasi meron din gusto magbayad pa. For those na hindi makabayad, we have adopted ‘yung flexible payment scheme na pwede nila tapusin during the year ‘yung premiums for the year, para hindi sila masyadong mahirapan,” he explained.
(But there are some who still ask how they can pay so we did not announce it as a moratorium because some still wanted to pay. For those who cannot pay, we have adopted a flexible payment scheme where they can finish paying premiums for the year so it will not be too hard on them.)
Morales said PhilHealth had earlier released P30 billion in advance to accredited hospitals to help them respond to the COVID-19 crisis. A statement from PhilHealth dated March 18 said the amount is equivalent to three months’ worth of claims of hospitals, which will be charged to future claims.
“Wala munang koleksyon tsaka wala munang kwentahan ngayon. Sagutan muna natin itong emergency na ito (There will be no collection for now. Let us respond to this emergency first),” said Morales.
The PhilHealth chief also made this announcement amid opposition against its premium rate increase for millions of OFWs.
Under PhilHealth Circular 2020-0014 that took effect on April 22, OFWs with an income of P10,000 to P60,000 are required to pay three percent of their monthly salary starting 2020, up from 2.75 percent in the previous year.
The monthly premium will also increase by 0.5 percent every year afterward until it reaches 5 percent in 2024, according to the circular.
An online petition against this increase has so far reached over 390,000 signatures as of posting time from its target of 500,000 signatures.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who was the principal author of the Universal Health Care Law when he was still sitting as Kabayan party-list representative, however clarified that the increase in PhilHealth premium contribution of OFWs is not part of the proposed legislation, but of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) crafted by the state health insurer.
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