If plans do not miscarry, workers and employers will be saddled again with an increase in health insurance contributions.
This, after PhilHealth president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma announced the implementation of the scheduled hike in members’ contributions to 5 percent from the current 4 percent a year after the hike was suspended by President Bongbong Marcos.
Direct contributors who are earning between P10,000 and P100,000 are expected to pay new premium rates ranging from P500 to P5,000, depending on their income bracket.In 2023, Marcos suspended the premium rate and income ceiling hike as Filipinos faced economic challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This development elicited strong reactions from many officials, one of them Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino.In his regular DZRH radio program, Tolentino asked Philhealth spokesman Rey Balena if members stand to get additional benefits from the agency following the increase in contributions.
According to Balena, included in the new benefits are expanded coverage of dialysisfrom 90 sessions to 156, mental health coverage up to P60,000, and boost for stroke and hemorrhagic sectors, among others.
With this, Senator Tol remarked: “Sa pagpapaliwanag ninyo, iyan ang dapat na maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan na itong 5-percent [premium] ay may appropriate increase rin sa value ng serbisyo na pwede nilang makamtan.”
This was affirmed by Balena who said that Philhealth is doing this especially as the agency is mandated to provide corresponding increased benefits for every contribution hike provided by RA 11223 or the Universal Healthcare Law signed in 2019.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa urged the President to suspend the increase in Philippine Health Insurance Corp. member contributions. Herbosa argued that the state insurer has sufficient funds to maintain benefits without the hike. He said it will not be hurt by delaying the increase in premiums.
Herbosa is correct in asking for a good actuarial study, a science-based approach on this policy tweak, not just raise it on a whim.
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