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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider JV Ejercito urges PBBM to suspend PhilHealth premium hike

JV Ejercito urges PBBM to suspend PhilHealth premium hike

Published Mar 1, 2024 06:38 am

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito has called on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to temporarily stop the increase in PhilHealth premium contributions until the amendment to the Universal Healthcare (UHC) law is passed.

Ejercito, principal sponsor of the UHC law, explained that the rates set in the current law were based on pre-pandemic figures.

The senator pointed out that before the Covid-19 pandemic, things were better but the situation has since changed.

“I support the proposal of Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa to suspend the increase in PhilHealth contributions. This is in line with a pending bill that I filed, focusing on amendments to the UHC to adjust premium rates, considering our ongoing recovery from the pandemic,” Ejercito said in a recent forum.

“Kung masu-suspend natin, I propose na ibalik muna natin sa 3.5 to 4 percent muna ang rates para makahinga po ang lahat (If we suspend it, I propose to return to the 3.5 to 4 percent rates so everyone can heave a sigh of releif),” he added.

Ejercito has filed Senate Bill No. 160 seeking to introduce several reforms in the system of collecting PhilHealth premiums.

The bill seeks to revise PhilHealth’s premium rate schedules, and base the contribution of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and self-employed individuals on the lowest premium rate.

SB 160 also seeks to free distressed or repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from their obligation to resolve their unpaid premiums upon their return to the country.

Ejercito also proposed the removal of the payment of PhilHealth contributions as a requirement for the issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC).

“I'm hoping that the amendment to the UHC will be passed soon. While we wait for its passage, which will adjust the premium contributions, perhaps we can temporarily suspend them,” he said.

President Marcos, on Wednesday, February 28, said determining the premium rate increase for PhilHealth should depend on a cost-benefit analysis, from four percent to five percent.

Marcos said the government will come up with a decision at the soonest time possible.

PhilHealth president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. eventually said that the contribution hike won’t be suspended since the President also supports the increase.

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philhealth contribution jv ejercito President Marcos
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