Senators Risa Hontiveros and Christopher 'Bong' Go called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth) to defer the five percent hike in premium contribution this year.
In a press statement, Hontiveros urged PhilHealth to be "considerate" and "sensitive" to Filipinos' burdens amidst the rising inflation.
"Sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain, singil sa tubig at kuryente, pamasahe at iba pa, at pagbagsak ng halaga ng kinikita ng ating kababayan dahil sa inflation, the deferment of the implementation of the PhilHealth premium rate hike is not only considerate, but also sensitive to the economic burdens carried by our kababayan," she stressed.
The opposition senator said PhilHealth could defer the implementation again as Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa had guaranteed that PhilHealth has sufficient funds this 2024.
Go also raised the same sentiments, saying that increased premium contribution should not add to the problems of Filipinos who "are still grappling with financial difficulties."
"Sabi ng DOH, sapat pa naman ang pondo ng PhilHealth upang patuloy na makapagbigay ng maayos na serbisyo sa mga miyembro nito," he said in a statement.
"Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Health, panawagan ko naman sa pamunuan ng PhilHealth ay tuluyang sugpuin ang mga anomalya sa ahensya, pagbutihin ang serbisyo nito at siguraduhing bawat piso sa pondo ng taumbayan ay nagagamit para sa mga Pilipino," the Senator added.
Acting PhilHealth Vice President Rey Baleña earlier told DZRH that 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.
Following the hike announcement, the DOH Secretary called on PhilHealth to defer the implementation.
"Nagtataasan kasi yung bilihin. It is not the right time to actually fill it. Kung ako ang tatanungin, suspended pa rin siya. Yung suspended siya, wala namang nawala sa mga benipisyo, nag-increase pa nga," Herbosa told reporters in an interview.
