Malacañang on Wednesday said President Marcos is looking into the appeal of Department of Health (DOH) chief Teodoro Herbosa to suspend the implementation of an increase in PhilHealth premium rates.
“The President is studying the request,” Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil told reporters in a Viber message.
Earlier, Herbosa stated he had submitted a recommendation to Marcos to suspend the five percent premium increase on PhilHealth contributions.
“My position is that, I think, PhilHealth has enough money to actually continue to give benefits. It will not be hurt by delaying the increase in premium. I need to see good actuarials on this one,” Herbosa said.
The Universal Health Care Law requires the planned five percent premium rate hike by 2024. It was signed by then President Rodrigo in 2019.
President Marcos, however, ordered the suspension of the premium rate and income ceiling hike of PhilHealth last year due to economic challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
