The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) announced on Thursday that the 5% premium rate hike will be effective by 2024 as mandated by the Universal Health Care (UHC) law.

This was addressed after President Ferdinand Marcos deferred the implementation of a 4.5 percent increase in the premium contribution and income ceiling for the calendar year (CY) 2023.

“Ang sinuspinde ay itong 2023. Ngayon, wala pa namang abiso o instruction para sa susunod na taon, sa 2024,” PhilHealth’s Acting Vice President for Corporate Affairs Rey Baleña said in a statement.

According to him, since there is no directive from the president regarding the 2024 rate hike, it will be pushed through as well as the adjustment of the income ceiling to P100,000.

“Kung bubuti ang lahat at wala namang magiging abiso ang ating Pangulo, ay tuloy po ayon sa schedule sa Universal Health Care Law ay 5% ‘yung ating premium rate at ‘yung ceiling ay P100,000,” he added.

The suspension of the premium rate hike for this year has affected various programs of PhiHealth including aid for mental health, therapeutic care for malnutrition, and healthcare consultations.