PhilHealth will increase premium contribution to 3% by 2021!

Just July this year, PhilHealth‘s anti-legal fraud officer Atty. Thorsson Keith resigned from his post because of the rampant corruption in the agency. This action started the whole Senate investigation to uncover the alleged misuse of funds. But those billions of pesos are still missing and there’s still no closure to this case.

More outpatient benefits for patients soon?

However,  the Philippine Health Insurance Inc. (PhilHealth) is planning to raise the premium rate contribution from 2.75 percent of the member’s monthly income to 3 percent. Allegedly, they’ll implement this increase starting January next year. In a press briefing, Local Health Insurance Office (LHIO) Central Pangasinan chief Madonna Valdez said the basic annual premium rate of PHP2,400 for voluntary members will increase to PHP3,600 next year.

Meanwhile, direct contributors with income ranging from PHP 10,000 to PHP 60,000 will pay the 3 percent increase beginning next year. Valdez noted that the premium rate’s contribution will continue to increase yearly. Under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, this trend will sustain until 2025. She further explained that the rate will be 3.5 percent in 2021, 4 percent in 2022, 4.5 percent in 2023, 5 percent in 2024 and 2025.

Madonna Valdez noted that sin tax and government shares from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) will fund the contribution of sponsored/indigents and senior citizens.

“Funding for the contribution of indirect contributors will soon be part of the General Appropriations Act.”

The raise in the premium rate contribution will entail more benefits like outpatient services. Valdez said that service coverage will include preventive, primitive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care. There will be outpatient benefits like drug and emergency services within two years of implementation of the increase. She added the services will also cover mental, medical, dental, and emergency services.

In fact, accreditation chief of Philhealth-1 Dr. Marlene Soliba said a transition package for outpatient services is an ongoing process.

“We are waiting for its circular to implement. It will cover medical check-up and medicine provisions for all qualified members and their dependents,” she said.

What do you guys think?