The state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Thursday defended their proposal to increase its members’ premium rates starting June this year to ensure the sustainability of their operations.”
“We understand that the economy is only starting to gain up now, but we have sustain the program of PhilHealth because we are helping many people here,” said PhilHealth vice president for corporate affairs Dr. Shirley Domingo.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we spent around P22 billion for COVID benefits but we didn’t raise premiums. We have to sustain, we have a lot of benefits lined up for our members,” she said.
The hike in contributions is also in line with the Universal Healthcare Act, which mandates a 0.5 percent increase in PhilHealth contributions every year until it reaches the 5 percent limit in 2025, Domingo added.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the government to defer the rate hike in 2021, following public uproar over some P15 billion in PhilHealth funds that reportedly went missing, which the agency denied.
The four-percent premium rate means that for those earning P10,000 and below, a P400 monthly premium would be collected from their salaries.
The premium ranges from P400 to P3,200 for those with a monthly basic salary of P10,000.01 to P79,999.99. It is a flat P3,200 for those who earn P80,000 and above. Employers shoulder half of the PhilHealth contribution.
