Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 17) — Malacañang on Wednesday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is studying Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa's appeal to suspend the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) ρrémíùm hike after the rate soared from 4% to 5% this year.
"The President is studying the request," Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said.
Herbosa said he wrote a letter to Marcos on Tuesday that the hike should be put on hold to avoid burdening Filipinos amid the high prices of basic goods. If an increase is necessary, he suggested that contributions should only be increased by 0.5% per annum or at 4.5% in 2024.
"If ever the president will agree, my recommendation is to start from where we stopped, not the current 5%," he said in a media briefing. "It's the logical way to lift the suspension. We don't jump very high kasi kawawa ang mga tao [because the people will suffer].”
Aside from his recommendation to the president, Herbosa said he will discuss his proposal with PhilHealth board members on Wednesday afternoon.
The ρrémíùm rate was supposed to increase from 4% to 4.5% in 2023 in accordance with the Universal Healthcare Law (UHC), but Marcos ordered the suspension of the hike as he cited persistent economic challenges faced by Filipinos, including rising prices of commodities.
The state health insurer explained that higher contributions are needed to expand the benefits and programs it offers to members. But Herbosa said PhilHealth is "very healthy" with good reserve and investments to be able to provide assistance to its members despite suspending the hike or only applying minimal increase.
"I think PhilHealth has enough money to actually continue to give benefits and it will not be hurt by delaying the increase in ρrémíùm," he said.
A number of lawmakers have backed Herbosa’s proposal, including Senator Joseph Victor “JV Ejercito” Estrada, principal sponsor and one of the co-authors of the UHC.
“I support Sec. Ted Herbosa’s proposal to suspend increase in Philhealth contributions because there is a pending bill that I filed on amendments to the UHC to adjust ρrémíùm rates as we are still recovering from the pandemic,” Ejercito said.
“We have done studies on the numbers and Philhealth said it will not affect the benefits and packages,” he added.
Senator Risa Hontiveros likewise echoed the call for the deferment of the hike, saying it is “not only considerate, but also sensitive to the economic burdens” carried by Filipinos.
Both Hontiveros and Senator Bong Go also noted that the DOH chief himself assured that the state health insurer has enough funds to continue its services to members.
PhilHealth CEO Emmanuel Ledesma, meanwhile, said they have to implement the increase pending the decision, but assured the public that the state insurer will comply with Marcos' orders.
"PhilHealth is bound by law to proceed with implementation, otherwise it will be remiss in its duty to the Filipino people that the law intends to serve and benefit. The said adjustment in premiums will generate additional funds that will enable PhilHealth to continue with and sustain its benefit expansion enhancements," he explained.
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"The President is studying the request," Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said.
Herbosa said he wrote a letter to Marcos on Tuesday that the hike should be put on hold to avoid burdening Filipinos amid the high prices of basic goods. If an increase is necessary, he suggested that contributions should only be increased by 0.5% per annum or at 4.5% in 2024.
"If ever the president will agree, my recommendation is to start from where we stopped, not the current 5%," he said in a media briefing. "It's the logical way to lift the suspension. We don't jump very high kasi kawawa ang mga tao [because the people will suffer].”
Aside from his recommendation to the president, Herbosa said he will discuss his proposal with PhilHealth board members on Wednesday afternoon.
The ρrémíùm rate was supposed to increase from 4% to 4.5% in 2023 in accordance with the Universal Healthcare Law (UHC), but Marcos ordered the suspension of the hike as he cited persistent economic challenges faced by Filipinos, including rising prices of commodities.
The state health insurer explained that higher contributions are needed to expand the benefits and programs it offers to members. But Herbosa said PhilHealth is "very healthy" with good reserve and investments to be able to provide assistance to its members despite suspending the hike or only applying minimal increase.
"I think PhilHealth has enough money to actually continue to give benefits and it will not be hurt by delaying the increase in ρrémíùm," he said.
A number of lawmakers have backed Herbosa’s proposal, including Senator Joseph Victor “JV Ejercito” Estrada, principal sponsor and one of the co-authors of the UHC.
“I support Sec. Ted Herbosa’s proposal to suspend increase in Philhealth contributions because there is a pending bill that I filed on amendments to the UHC to adjust ρrémíùm rates as we are still recovering from the pandemic,” Ejercito said.
“We have done studies on the numbers and Philhealth said it will not affect the benefits and packages,” he added.
Senator Risa Hontiveros likewise echoed the call for the deferment of the hike, saying it is “not only considerate, but also sensitive to the economic burdens” carried by Filipinos.
Both Hontiveros and Senator Bong Go also noted that the DOH chief himself assured that the state health insurer has enough funds to continue its services to members.
PhilHealth CEO Emmanuel Ledesma, meanwhile, said they have to implement the increase pending the decision, but assured the public that the state insurer will comply with Marcos' orders.
"PhilHealth is bound by law to proceed with implementation, otherwise it will be remiss in its duty to the Filipino people that the law intends to serve and benefit. The said adjustment in premiums will generate additional funds that will enable PhilHealth to continue with and sustain its benefit expansion enhancements," he explained.
Source