The 5 percent pending hike for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) premium rate is still under review, according to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief executive said there should be additional benefits to all PhilHealth members that come with the price hike.
"It’s under review. What we are trying to determine is that if we are going to increase the contribution from four percent to five percent, anong bawi? It’s really a cause-benefit analysis,” Marcos said.
He also acknowledged how the state insurer has expanded their benefits over the years. Among these is the increased dialysis support to three times a week for outpatients, which is equivalent to full weekly coverage.
Marcos also mentioned PhilHealth also increased its coverage for “Case Z conditions” such as cancer.
“PhilHealth has been expanding its services and trying to reach more people, trying to engage more people,” Marcos said.
“So, kung may benepisyo naman, if we can justify the increase then we’ll do it but if not, we won’t. Ganoon lang kasimple ‘yun. It’s just a very straight forward cause-benefit analysis.”
PhilHealth president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. earlier revealed in a public briefing that Marcos did not oppose the premium hike.
Ledesma said that the Office of the President (OP), through a letter from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, said that “they pose no objection to the scheduled increase which was implemented on January 1st” after a “very thorough study.”
Effective January 1, the premium rate went up to 5% while the monthly basic salary ceiling will increase to PHP 100,000 and the minimum remains at PHP 10,000.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa earlier appealed to Presidnet Marcos to suspend the implementation of the premium hike.
The Republic Act No. 1123 or the Universal Healthcare Act directs the PhilHeallth contribution rate to be raised by 0.5% annually beginning in 2021 and continuing until it reaches 5% from 2024 to 2025.
