The five percent increase in the premium contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will continue after President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. did not oppose the increase implemented, PhilHealth president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. revealed Friday.
In a public briefing, 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.
In an interview with DZRH last month, acting PhilHealth Vice President Rey Baleña said the five percent increase would be the last schedule of adjustment until 2025, citing that the hike was mandated by the Universal Health Care Law.
Ledesma said the state health insurer is expecting an additional PHP 17 billion in revenues this year from the increase in premium rate.
"I want to assure all of you, yes maraming pera ang PhilHealth. But you can be assured, 100 percent that money will be used wisely and reported in detail, regularly with President," he said.
Under the Universal Healthcare Act, PhilHealth is mandated to raise members’ premiums by 0.5 percent every year starting 2019.
