JV Ejercito appeals to President Marcos: Suspend PhilHealth premium hike, awaits UHC amendment
February 29, 2024
Senator JV Ejercito is urging President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. anew to temporarily halt the increase in PhilHealth premium contributions until the amendment to the Universal Healthcare (UHC) law is passed.
As the principal sponsor of the UHC law, Ejercito pointed out that the rates set in the current law were based on pre-pandemic figures, when things were better, and the situation has since changed.
“I support the proposal of Department of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa to suspend the increase in PhilHealth contributions. This is in line with a pending bill that I filed, focusing on amendments to the UHC to adjust premium rates, considering our ongoing recovery from the pandemic,” Ejercito said.
“Kung masu-suspend natin, I propose na ibalik muna natin sa 3.5 to 4 percent muna ang rates para makahinga po ang lahat,” he added.
In July 2022, the lawmaker from San Juan filed Senate Bill No. 160, which aims to introduce several reforms to the collection of PhilHealth premiums.
Proposed amendments seek to revise PhilHealth’s premium rate schedule; base the contribution of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and self-employed individuals on the lowest premium rate; free distressed or repatriated OFWs from their obligation to resolve their unpaid premiums upon their return to the country; and remove the payment of PhilHealth contributions as a requirement for the issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates.
Other proposed changes to the premium collection scheme include fixing the income ceiling for premium contributions at P40,000 as the basis for premium rates and increasing the national government’s subsidy for indirect contributors.
Under the UHC law, direct contributors include regular employees, self-earning professionals, migrant workers, dependents, and lifetime members. Indirect contributors, on the other hand, are those not falling under these categories and have their premiums subsidized by the national government.
“I'm hoping that the amendment to the UHC will be passed soon. While we wait for its passage, which will adjust the premium contributions, perhaps we can temporarily suspend them.”
During a recent meeting with the President in Malacañang, Ejercito discussed this concern with President Marcos, who assured him that as long as expenses are justified and the required packages are in place, they can proceed accordingly.
But based on the conducted studies, Ejercito noted that PhilHealth has confirmed that the changes will not negatively affect the benefits and packages.
“For instance, under the UHC, benefits for kidney transplants amount to 600,000 pesos, while open-heart surgery is covered up to 500,000 pesos. Treatments for breast cancer range from 100,000 to 150,000 pesos, and severe pneumonia treatment is covered up to 300,000 pesos,” the lawmaker explained.
“So, talagang nag-level up ang PhilHealth at kaya nilang suportahan ito kahit itigil muna ang pagtaas ng premium,” he emphasized.
Ejercito cited that there is a lack of information campaign by the concerned agencies regarding the law as many are unaware that such benefits exist, like overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
