THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is set to impose a higher premium rate next month for all its direct contributor members.
The additional 1 percent contribution (4 percent from 3 percent) will be required from paying members as mandated under the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, said Rex Paul Recoter, PhilHealth senior manager for Formal Sector-member Management Group.
“As of now, we are collecting 3 percent. But since the deferment or suspension of the increase has no law, PhilHealth is now obliged, under the UHC Act, to collect the 4 percent for the year 2022,” Recoter said.
PhilHealth spokesperson Shirley Domingo said the agency can no longer defer the increase in contribution.
“We are now going back to implementing this 4 percent as specified under the law,” she said.
Considered as direct contributors are employees with formal employment, “kasambahay” or house help, self-earning individuals, professional practitioners, Filipinos working overseas, Filipinos living abroad and those with dual citizenship, lifetime members, and all Filipinos 21 years and older with capacity to pay.
On the other hand, indirect contributors are indigents identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, senior citizens, persons with disability, Sangguniang Kabataan officials, persons sponsored by local government units, and all Filipinos 21 years and older without capacity to pay premiums.
Under the UHC Law, every PhilHealth member shall be granted immediate eligibility for health benefit package.
The law also states that PhilHealth will provide additional benefits for direct contributors.
PhilHealth officials said the increase next month is brought about by Congress’ failure to pass a law allowing the deferment of the hike mandated under the UHC Law.
The House of Representatives has approved a measure suspending the premium hike, but a similar measure remains pending at the Senate.
“There is no law that came out of it,” said Recoter.
Early last year, PhilHealth opted to withhold the annual increase in its premium contribution rate until further notice, amid adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PhilHealth, however, said an “interim arrangement” will be good only until Congress is able to pass a new law allowing the deferment of the scheduled premium adjustment.
Recoter also said that as of March 2022, PhilHealth has collected P24 billion in premium contributions. And once the premium hike is implemented, the agency is hoping to collect P189 billion for the year, he said.
