The Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth) on Saturday, January 13, announced that the 5 percent premium contribution hike was the last adjustment until 2025.
“Ito na po [na 5-percent hike sa PhilHealth member contribution] ang huling adjustment na magaganap. Sapagkat ayon sa UHC law ‘pag tiningnan natin yung schedule for 2025 ay ‘yun na rin eh, 5 percent kada buwan. So ito na po ang huli,” Rey Baleña, acting vice president of PhilHealth's corporate affairs group, told DZRH in an interview.
Baleña cited the Universal Health Care (UHC) law for the mandated increase in contribution.
“Ayon po sa Universal Health Care law ay ngayong taon 2024 ang nakatakda po na contribution schedule natin ay 5 percent na po. ‘Yan ay nanggaling sa 4 percent last year,” he said.
He also explained that the contribution was supposedly 4.5 percent in 2023 before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to suspend it.
“Infact dapat nga last year manggaling tayo sa 4.5 percent pero diba nagkaroon po ng direktiba si Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. na ito po’y suspendihin. Yung 4 percent ‘yan na yung rate pa po natin nung 2022,” he said.
The PhilHealth official shared that the 500-peso contribution by employees would be divided in half while Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) would have to pay it in full.
“Kapag empleyado o meron siyang employer, yung 500 [na PhilHealth contribution] na yan hahatiin pa yan sa kalahati, lalabas 250 nalang ang ikakaltas sa kaniyang sweldo kada buwan. Yung 250 ‘yan naman ang share ng kanyang employes,” Baleña said.
“Ngayon dun sa mga self-earning individuals, kasama na diyan yung ating OFWs ay buo po nila na babayaran yung premium sapagkat hindi sila employed dito sa Pilipinas,” he added.
Baleña assured members that the contribution hike would entail higher coverage and better services.
“Makakaasa po ang ating mga kababayan na with this increase ay magkakaroon pa ng patuloy na pagbuti at pagtataas pa ng coverage at ating mga benipisyo. In fact last year ay nasimulan na natin yung pagpapabuti ng ating mga benipisyo. kahit hindi natuloy ay ating increase,” he said.
PhilHealth earlier imposed the contribution hike for premium rates but it would willingly comply with the directives of Malacañang.
