The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) defended its decision to proceed with its contribution hike in June amid public uproar following its announcement.
“Naiintindihan natin na ngayon lang nag-ge-gain up talaga yung ating economy ‘no, but we have to sustain the program of PhilHealth kasi marami tayong natutulungan dito eh,” vice president for corporate affairs Dr. Shirley Domingo told ABS-CBN Teleradyo last May 30.
Domingo explained the increase in PhilHealth members’ collection rate is needed to generate funds for the state insurance agency’s operations.
“Nung COVID time nga eh, gumastos tayo ng around P22 billion for COVID benefits pero hindi po tayo nagtaas ng premiums po noon. We have to sustain, marami po tayong nakalinya po na benefits for our members,” she added.
The Universal Healthcare Act mandates a 0.5 percent increase in PhilHealth premium contributions every year starting from 3% in 2020 until it reaches 5% in 2025.
For the year 2022, PhilHealth will raise its collection rate to 4 percent from the current 3 percent of a member’s monthly salary starting June. This means that for those earning P10,000 and below, a P400 monthly premium would be collected.
To recall, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered in January last year the deferment of the monthly PhilHealth premium rate hike due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thumbnail photo courtesy of PhilHealth
