The suspension of the premium contribution increase for the year 2023 was welcomed by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Monday evening, Jan. 2.
Both agencies, as stated in its joint statement issued on Monday, are “cognizant” of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s decision to suspend the scheduled increase in PhilHealth's premium rate and income ceiling for the calendar year 2023.
“The suspension to help our kababayans cope with the increasing prices of commodities caused by inflation. Such moratorium in increases in premium contributions have been done in years 2020 and 2021,” the joint statement read.
The memorandum from the Office of the President, on the other hand, cited the prevailing “socioeconomic challenges” brought by the pandemic as a driving force to suspend the measures.
According to the DOH, premium contributions collected by PhilHealth are utilized for the purposes of “financing the expansion of benefits” in accordance with the Universal Health Care Law.