Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) Sunday to consider the deferment of the scheduled increase of membership contributions and take into consideration the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the jobs and livelihood of Filipinos.
(OFFICE OF SEN. BONG GO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to Go, State economic managers and fellow lawmakers can work together and explore options for deferring or restructuring payment terms and rates of various financial obligations in accordance with existing laws.
Go said the government can consider introducing provisions deferring the increase that is mandated under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law under the proposed Bayanihan 3.
“While I recognize that this increase is mandated by law, we must explore all possible legal remedies to avoid any additional burden to Filipinos at this time when we are still addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Go said in a statement.
“Puwede nating pag aralan na i-amend ‘yung law or i-defer natin ito through a provision in Bayanihan 3. Kung magpasa tayo ng Bayanihan 3, puwede pong ma-identify ng gobyerno doon sa batas kung ano ang pwedeng i-defer muna while nasa pandemic pa tayo (We can study to amend the law or defer this through a provision in Bayanihan 3. If we pass a Bayanihan 3, the government can identify what can financial obligations to defer while we are still in a pandemic),” he explained.
Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said that the increase in member’s contribution is mandated under the UHC Law and is necessary to sustain the services of the State insurance agency.
But when the pandemic struck, thousands of Filipinos, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), lost their jobs and livelihoods and, as a result, may be unable to pay or overburdened by the increased premium rate.
“May pandemya tayo ngayon at napakahirap pigain ang mga Pilipino na madagdagan pa ng 0.5 percent dito sa babayaran nila. Kaya nga po noong nakaraang Mayo ay sinabi ni Pangulo Duterte na boluntaryo lang sa OFWs ‘yung pagbabayad ng remittances (We have a pandemic now and it’s difficult to push Filipinos to pay an additional 0.5 percent in their monthly contributions. That’s why last May, President Duterte announced that OFWs’ remittance payments are only voluntary),” he pointed out.
Go acknowledged that the increase in PhilHealth members’ contributions mandated under the UHC Law is necessary to sustain the services of the agency, but Filipinos at this time, especially those who have lost their jobs and livelihood, may find it difficult to pay or be overburdened by the premium rate increase.
He said the government should find a mechanism that would help millions of Filipino workers, especially those grappling with monetary and health challenges, keep their health insurance while easing their financial burdens.
“Ang pakiusap ko sa mga kasamahan natin sa gobyerno ay huwag natin ipasa ang pasakit sa taumbayan lalo na sa panahon ng kanilang pangangailangan (My appeal to our colleagues in government is for us to help our people cope up especially during this time of their need),” he said.
Under the law, mandatory PhilHealth contributions will be increased annually until they reach five percent of the monthly income from 2020 to 2025.
Starting Jan. 1, 2021, direct contributors shall pay a fixed monthly premium of P350 to P2,450 depending on their monthly income.