Senator Grace Poe has filed a bill that will empower President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to halt the hike in payments to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Poe claimed that delaying the contribution hike will relieve the Filipino people of an added burden at a period when the nation is battling a pandemic and contending with skyrocketing prices for necessities.
“The hike comes at a time when our people continue to grapple with the impact of the pandemic and the soaring prices of basic needs,” Poe stated on Monday.
“Right now, we must heed their distress call for food to feed their families and jobs to help them get by, with the least burden and utmost support from the government,” she added.
With the help of the PhilHealth board, Poe’s plan would grant the President the authority to halt premium increases in the event of a national emergency, public health emergency, or major disaster.
The legislation, which aims to reform the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, stipulates that the mandatory contribution increase may be implemented after the abovementioned restrictions are lifted.
“By giving the President the power and authority to suspend such increases in times of need, we are also providing our countrymen a critical lifeline,” Poe said.
Poe files bill to block PhilHealth contribution hike
She hoped her bill would receive the proper attention to stop the contribution increase, which began in June this year.
The premium rate now being collected has increased from 3 to 4 percent.
Since the increase was retroactive to January, members of PhilHealth would also be required to pay an additional premium of 1% from January to May in addition to the increased payments.
In its Advisory No. 2022-0010, PhilHealth advised members and employers to “generate the corresponding Statement of Premium Account for the paid periods so they can settle the 1 percent differential payments/remittances until December 31, 2022” if they had already paid their contributions at the 3 percent rate in the months before the premium rate hike beginning next month.
With a 4-percent premium rate, those making P10,000 or more minor would have to pay a P400 monthly premium.
For those earning a basic monthly wage between P10,000.01 and P79,999.99, the contribution will be in the range of P400 to P3,200. For those who make P80,000 or more, the fee is a fixed P3,200.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.