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).