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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Adiong: PhilHealth reserve funds more than enough to cover Pinoys' health needs

Adiong: PhilHealth reserve funds more than enough to cover Pinoys' health needs

Published Dec 17, 2024 09:21 am

At A Glance

  • Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong insisted that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has more than enough reserve funds to cover the health needs of Filipinos.

Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong (PPAB).jpgLanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong (PPAB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong insisted that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has more than enough reserve funds to cover the health needs of Filipinos.

"Fake news po ang kumakalat na 'bawal daw magkasakit next year' dahil walang pondo ang PhilHealth, matapos itong hindi bigyan ng premium subsidy sa 2025 budget," Adiong said in a statement on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

(The claim that “it is forbidden to get sick next year” because PhilHealth has no funds, after it was not given a premium subsidy in the 2025 budget, is fake news.)

Based on the final version of the proposed 2025 national budget, the Bicameral Conference Committee allocated no funding for PhilHealth subsidies.

The decision took into consideration PhilHealth’s reserve funds, which lawmakers deemed sufficient to cover its obligations without additional government support.

Adiong, an assistant majority leader, pointed out that the investible funds of the state health insurer had reached P504 billion based on previous congressional hearings.

He said this immense amount raises huge concern given that the primary mandate of PhilHealth is to “spend to save the lives and pockets of our kababayans, not to earn interest”.

Adiong recalled that PhilHealth officials also reported that the agency’s surplus reserve funds amounted to P183 billion—-which surpasses the P140 billion threshold set by the Department of Finance (DOF).

This is in addition to the two unutilized Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) equivalent to P42 billion, he said.

"Thus, it’s clear that the State health insurer has more than enough to cover the health needs of Filipinos even for the next two years,” noted Adiong.

With PhilHealth’s ample reserve and investible funds, he said this suggests a strong capacity to meet future claims and even expand benefit packages.

As specified in Republic Act (RA) No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act, the agency has the authority to either expand benefits or reduce premium contributions if it’s in possession of excess funds.

Adiong stressed that with all these available resources, the worries about PhilHealth’s financial incapacity are merely baseless.

“PhilHealth's substantial reserves and ongoing benefit enhancements ensure that Filipinos will continue to receive the healthcare support they need in the coming years,” he explained.

Related Tags

zia alonto adiong PhilHealth 2025 budget
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