Senator JV Ejercito has renewed his call to President Marcos to temporarily halt the increase in PhilHealth premium contributions until the amendment to the Universal Healthcare Law is passed.
Ejercito said he supports the proposal of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa to suspend the increase in PhilHealth contributions.
He noted that this is in line with a pending bill that he filed, focusing on amendments to the UHC to adjust premium rates, “considering our ongoing recovery from the pandemic.”
As the principal sponsor of the UHC law, Ejercito pointed out that the rates set in the current law were based on prepandemic figures, “when things were better, and the situation has since changed.”
“If it will be suspended, I propose let us turn the rates to 3.5 to 4 percent so everybody can breathe,” said Ejercito.
In July 2022, he filed Senate Bill No. 160, which aims to introduce several reforms to the collection of PhilHealth premiums.
Proposed amendments seek to revise PhilHealth’s premium rate schedule; base the contribution of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and self-employed individuals on the lowest premium rate; free distressed or repatriated OFWs from their obligation to resolve their unpaid premiums upon their return to the country; and remove the payment of PhilHealth contributions as a requirement for the issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates.
“I’m hoping that the amendment to the UHC will be passed soon. While we wait for its passage, which will adjust the premium contributions, perhaps we can temporarily suspend them,” he said.
During a recent meeting with the President in Malacañang, Ejercito discussed this concern with Mr. Marcos, who assured him that as long as expenses are justified and the required packages are in place, they can proceed accordingly.
But based on the conducted studies, Ejercito noted that PhilHealth has confirmed that the changes will not negatively affect the benefits and packages.
“For instance, under the UHC, benefits for kidney transplants amount to P600,000, while open-heart surgery is covered up to P500,000.
Treatments for breast cancer range from P100,000 to 150,000, and severe pneumonia treatment is covered up to P300,000,” the lawmaker explained.
Ejercito said there is a lack of information campaign by the concerned agencies regarding the law as many are unaware that such benefits exist, like OFWs.