PhilHealth: Premium hike covers those earning P8K, informal workers, OFWs

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) clarified that only members belonging to selected sectors have been affected by the adjustments in premium contributions, contrary to some reports in the media.

At the Fernandina forum in San Juan City on Wednesday, Rodolfo del Rosario Jr., officer-in-charge of the PhilHealth’s corporate communications unit, said that adjusted premium contributions would cover those earning P8,000 and below, the informal sector, and land-based overseas Filipino workers.

For those earning P8,000 and below, he said the P175 monthly contribution has been “adjusted” to P200 per month.

The new figure, he said, would be shouldered on a 50-50 basis by the employer and the employee, as was the case prior to the adjustment.

“So P100 po ang binabayad (ngayon) ng employees (earning P8,000 and below) per month,” he said.

On the other hand, the contributions of PhilHealth members of the informal sector, such as ambulant vendors, among others, he said, have been adjusted from P150 per month to P200 per month.

Only land-based OFWs who are members of PhilHealth, he added, would have to pay P2,400 on a yearly basis, double their previous yearly contribution of P1,200 before the rate adjustments. /INQUIRER