The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is expected to implement an additional 0.5 percent increase in the monthly contribution of its members starting January next year.
The premium rate will increase to 4.5 percent in 2023 from the current four percent. This increase is mandated under the Universal Health Care Act.
“Para maintindihan natin, doon po sa kumikita ng P10,000 kada buwan, so times 4.5 percent starting January, ang atin pong kontribusyon ay P450 kada buwan. At kung iyan ay hahatiin pa between the employer and the employee, iyan ay P225 pesos na lamang ang ating magiging share,” said PhilHealth Corporate Communications Senior Manager Rey Balena last Monday, Dec. 12.
“Sa kumikita halimbawa ng P50,000 kada buwan, ang atin pong monthly contribution would be P2,250 kada buwan. At dahil nga may share ang employer, ang babayaran na lamang ng empleyado ay P1,125,” he added.
The yearly increase in the contribution rate will end in 2025, said Balena.
“Well, ito po ay hahanggan ng 2024, 2025. Ito po ay nagsimula na noong 2019, noong naisabatas po ang Universal Health Care Law. Nagsimula noong 2019 at unti-unti po iyong magiging adjustment sa ating premium contribution,” he said.
The increase in contribution will be used to further enhance PhilHealth’s primary care benefit package or the KonSulTa (Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama) package, said Balena. This package will provide consultations, health-risk screenings, laboratory tests, as well as medicines, he said.
Balena said that this move will also help in funding other services of PhilHealth, adding that they are expected to roll out “outpatient therapeutic care for severe, acute malnutrition” and “outpatient package for mental health” in 2023.
“Napakahalaga po ng atin pong kontribusyon sa national health insurance program, at ito po ay itinadhana ng Universal Health Care Law nang sa gayun ang bawat Pilipino po ay mabigyan po ng karampatang access sa mga serbisyong medikal at kaakibat nito ay mabigyan tayo ng sapat na financial protection,” said Balena.