President Marcos is studying the recommendation to suspend the implementation of the five-percent increase in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.'s (Philhealth) premium rates, Malacañang said.

Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said this after Health Secretary Ted Herbosa revealed that he had appealed to the President to suspend the said rate hike this year.

In a text message on Wednesday, Jan. 17, Garafil said Marcos was studying the proposal.

"The President is studying the request," she said.

The scheduled increase is mandated under the Universal Health Care Law, which was signed in 2019. It directs PhilHealth contributions to increase until it reaches five percent in 2024.

Premium contribution rose to three percent in 2020 and would have increased by .5 percent yearly until it reached the target. However, PhilHealth suspended the rate hike in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

If the implementation of the premium rate hike this year is not suspended, those earning P10,000 a month would contribute P500.

In a media forum, Herbosa said he was against the increase in PhilHealth's premium rates as the public was already suffering due to the rising prices of commodities.

He said delaying the increase would not have a significant impact on PhilHealth.

"I think PhilHealth has enough money to actually continue to give benefits. It will not be hurt by delaying the increase in premium," Herbosa said.