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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider In 20th Congress, Romualdez wants law that would spare OFWs from paying PhilHealth premiums

In 20th Congress, Romualdez wants law that would spare OFWs from paying PhilHealth premiums

Published Jun 30, 2025 07:23 pm

At A Glance

  • Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president, Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez is seeking in the 20th Congress the exemption of millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as far as the payment of premium contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is concerned.
(Department of Migrant Workers' Facebook)
(Department of Migrant Workers' Facebook)


Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president, Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez is seeking in the 20th Congress the exemption of millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as far as the payment of premium contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is concerned.
For this purpose, Romualdez has filed on Monday, June 30, House Bill (HB) No. 2, which aims to “strengthen the country’s healthcare system to better achieve efficiency and equity and improve public health emergency preparedness.
Monday was the first day of the filing of bills in the 20th Congress. Romualdez served as House Speaker during the previous 19th Congress.
Aside from doing away with migrant workers' PhilHealth premium payments, the bill also reduces contributions and prohibition against the transfer of the state insurer’s funds to the national treasury.
The measure provides that half of the OFWs’ premium contributions shall be paid by the national government, while the other half shall be shouldered by their employers.
It mandates PhilHealth and the Department of Health (DOH) “to include a mechanism for lowering premium contribution in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.
The prohibition against transfer of funds states:
“Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no portion of the reserve fund or any fund or income of PhilHealth, including the provident fund under Section 16 (C) and the special health fund under Section 20 of this Act, shall accrue to the general fund of the national government or to any of its agencies or instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations.”
Complying with a Department of Finance (DOF) circular, PhilHealth has transferred at least P60 billion of its reserve fund to the national treasury, with a further P30-billion remittance stopped by the Supreme Court (SC).
The transfer, questioned by concerned citizens, is still pending resolution by the high court.
The DOF said its circular was authorized by the annual budget law.
The bill also provides that any unused portion of premium subsidies for indirect contributors shall be allocated exclusively for an increase in benefits or a decrease in forthcoming premium subsidies.
Indirect contributors are Filipinos who cannot afford to pay their Philhealth premium, including the poor and the jobless. It is the national government that pays for their premiums through the annual budget.
Another provision of the bill mandates that premium contribution rates shall be based on actuarial studies and assessments considering the projected healthcare utilization. The adjusted premium rates shall be subject to the approval of Congress.
Serving as Romualdez's co-authors in HB No.2 were Tingog Party-list Reps. Andrew Julian Romualdez and Jude Acidre.
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