The Senate Committee on Health and Demography on Tuesday, August 20, pressed officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to ask President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to decrease the premium contribution of members to help ease the financial burden of patients dealing with the high cost of healthcare.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the health panel, made the pitch as he reminded PhilHealth president Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. that he promised to recommend decreasing member contributions to the President during the last hearing of the Development Budget Coordinating Council (DBCC).

Ledesma, however, pointed out he has yet to make the suggestion to the Chief Executive, to which Go said he is disappointed. 

“Iwas-pusoy ito. In fact, ito yung sinabi mo (this is what you said). In fact, we will recommend, ‘we at PhilHealth, our management will recommend to President Marcos that we bring down the premium rates.’ On record po yan. Klaro na. Gusto niyong i-review natin (That’s on record. Very clear. You want to review the record)?” Go pointed out. 

To which Ledesma affirmed, but said he also mentioned that they “are internally reviewing from our end.”

“Senator Go, we fully support the reduction of the premium contribution. And as amendment to the UHC (Universal Health Care) law, yung 3.25 premium rate for 2025. 110% support ng PhilHealth po doon (the 3.25 premium rate for 2025, PhilHealth is supporting that 110 percent). At the same time po, we are internally reviewing from our end),” Ledesma said.

Go, then, asked Ledesma to carry out his promise. Ledesma, in response, said he will. 

“We’d like to think at PhilHealth, we deliver all our promises. At least, try our best to deliver,” the PhilHealth chief said.

Ledesma also added that they have repeatedly tried to convince the Department of Finance (DOF) to use the P90 billion funds that were transferred from PhilHealth to the National Treasury be used to increase the health benefits of PhilHealth members.

“I have insisted to the DOF, that hopefully, the P90 billion, be used for health funds. So, we at PhilHealth have consistently insisted on that. Pero, I think that's really up to the decision of the DOF…We are really insisting on help to help. From the beginning,” he stressed. 

Still, Go reiterated his deep concern and opposition to the transfer of PhilHealth fund to the National Treasury saying the fund must be used for the health benefit of poor people and not for other reasons. 

“Increase your case rates, expand your programs, suspend the increase in premium contribution, and stop the transfers of billions of pesos and instead make use of your fund to benefit the health of the poor,” Go appealed to PhilHealth officials.