HOUSE leaders led by Speaker Martin Romualdez have filed a bill seeking to empower President Marcos Jr. to suspend the increase in premiums of “direct contributors” of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), including employees.
Romualdez said the suspension of the adjustment under House Bill (HB) No. 6772 “would remove an added financial burden on millions of government and private sector workers, professionals, self-employed, and other PhilHealth contributors who are still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
He noted that daily wage earners and many employees comprising majority of PhilHealth members would save at least P50 a month or P600 a year from their health insurance premium payment if the adjustments are suspended.
The co-authors of the bills are majority leader Manuel Jose Dalipe; senior deputy majority leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos Jr., and Tingog party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre.
Under Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Act, contributions will rise this year from four percent to 4.5 percent or from the minimum monthly premium of P400 to P450.
The rate will further increase to five percent starting in 2025.
The bill would amend RA 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act that was enacted in 2018.
The proposed amendment states that “The President of the Philippines may, upon recommendation of the PhilHealth board, suspend and adjust the period of implementation of the scheduled increase of premium rates during national emergencies or calamities, or when public interest so requires.”
It would be a new paragraph under Section 10 of the law.
The Speaker and his colleagues stressed the President has supported calls to defer this year’s increase in Philhealth premiums.
They noted that upon the President’s orders, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin had issued a memorandum suspending the adjustment and income ceiling for this year.
In filing the amendatory bill, the Speaker and his four co-authors cited the objective of the Universal Health Care Act itself, which is to “ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services, and protected against financial risk.”
The bill said the country has barely recovered from losses and difficulties caused by the pandemic, as many businesses have not yet reopened and many people remain jobless.
“The intent of the law is clear and cannot be overemphasized. Filipinos need and deserve a comprehensive set of health services that are cost effective, high quality and responsive to the requirements of all citizens,” the bill said. “While Philhealth only aims to fulfill and remain faithful to its mandate, imposing a higher premium on Filipinos in these current conditions where most of them are grappling with the pandemic will definitely enforce a new round of financial burden to its members.”
