President Marcos has yet to reach a decision on whether or not the government would push through with the increase on PhilHealth premium contribution but he signaled that the matter will be decided upon "very soon."
Marcos said it remains "under review" but if they can justify the rate hike, they will implement and if not, they won't.
"So, kung may benepisyo naman (if there is a benefit), if we can justify the increase then we’ll do it but if not, we won’t. Ganoon lang kasimple yun (That's how simple that is). It’s just a very straightforward cost-benefit analysis," the President said in a media interview on Wednesday, Feb. 28, before leaving for Australia.
"We’re still under study but we’ll come to a conclusion very, very soon," he added.
The President explained that they are still trying to determine if they are going to implement four or five percent.
"It’s really a cost-benefit analysis. And PhilHealth has been expanding it’s services and trying to reach more people, trying to engage more people. And like for example yung mga pinagbabayad sa mga nagda-dialysis (those paying for dialysis), has increased almost three times; the payment for even catastrophic (diseases) like cancer, has increased by tenfold," Marcos said.
Premium contribution rose to three percent in 2020 and would have increased by .5 percent yearly until it reached the target under the Universal Health Care law. However, PhilHealth suspended the rate hike in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.