PhilHealth
MANILA, Philippines — Both the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) expressed understanding of Malacañang’s decision to postpone the national insurance program’s planned premium hike for 2023, adding that the issue would be discussed further in a meeting on Wednesday.
In a joint statement from DOH and PhilHealth on Monday, the department said that they are aware of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to stop the increase of PhilHealth members’ contribution from four percent to 4.5 percent, as it is meant to help people cope with the rising prices of goods.
Marcos ordered the postponement through a memorandum sent to Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer-in-charge of the DOH.
“The Department of Health and PhilHealth are cognizant of the decision of the Office of the President to suspend implementation of the Premium Contribution Increase of PhilHealth from 4% to 4.5% for the year 2023,” the agencies said.
“The DOH and PhilHealth recognize the suspension is intended to help our kababayans cope with the increasing prices of commodities caused by inflation. Such moratorium in increases in premium contributions have been done in years 2020 and 2021. This was in accordance with directives of the Office of the President, and in recognition of the effects of the pandemic during those years,” it added.
In 2021, then president Rodrigo Duterte postponed PhilHealth’s proposed premium hike amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ: Duterte holds off PhilHealth contribution hike, says Bong Go
According to DOH, the premium hike was supposed to be for the purpose of financing the expanded benefits stated under the Universal Health Care law.
“The Premium Contributions collected by PhilHealth are for purposes of financing the expansion of benefits in accordance to the Universal Health Care law. Changes in premium schedules will also be synched with planned benefit roll-outs,” DOH and PhilHealth said.
“The matter shall be discussed in the PhilHealth Board Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, January 4, 2023. Further announcements shall be made by the PhilHealth to properly guide the members and employers on the matter,” they added.
In the memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on behalf of the President, a deferral of the scheduled hike was ordered as the country is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
PhilHealth initially claimed that the increase would be key to securing the future of the state-owned insurer.