Teodoro Herbosa —MALACAÑANG PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Department of Health (DOH) chief Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa disclosed on Wednesday that he would recommend the continuous suspension of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) premium rate hike implementation this year.
Herbosa said the implementation of the increase was suspended during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic up until PhilHealth increased its members’ premium contribution from four percent to five percent in 2024.
READ: PhilHealth members’ contribution hikes to 5% this 2024
“My position is I think PhilHealth has enough money to actually continue to give benefits. It will not be hurt by delaying the increase in premium […] You need to have a science-based policy. Hindi ‘yung [on a] whim na itataas mo lang,” Herbosa said in a media forum.
(You need to have a science-based policy to raise it, not just because of a whim.)
The health official revealed that he will raise his suggestion during PhilHealth’s board meeting, which will be held this afternoon.
“Kung ako ang tatanungin suspended pa rin sya wala naman nawala sa benepisyo nabigay pa rin,” he justified.
(If you ask me, I’d prefer for continued suspension of the contribution hike since members still receive their benefits.)
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According to Herbosa, the increase is in line with the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, which mainly affects members with salaries ranging from P10,000 to P100,000 per month.
Earlier, PhilHealth said those with a P10,000 income will contribute P500, while those making P10,000.01 to P99,999.99 a month will have P500 to P5,000 deductions from the state insurer.
On the other hand, employees earning P100,000 will have to contribute P5,000 monthly.
PhilHealth said it started implementing the hike last January 1 per the UHC law since the state insurer did not receive a suspension order from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.