PhilHealth contribution

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to suspend the increase of premium rate and ...

This was in accordance with directives of the Office of the President, and in recognition of the effects of the pandemic during those years,” they said. “Such moratoriums in increases in premium contributions have been done in years 2020 and 2021. If one earns P10,000 monthly, his or her P400 contribution will increase to P450.

Citing “socioeconomic challenges,” Malacañang on Monday announced the suspension of the scheduled hike in premiums of the Philippine Health.

Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, also postponed the increase in PhilHealth contributions in response to members’ financial distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (PhilHealth) from 4 percent to 4.5 percent that would have seen the lowest-earning members pay P50 more on top of their P400 monthly contribution. In 2021, Mr. PhilHealth earlier argued that the slight increase in premium would have helped the government insurer to sustain the level of benefits currently enjoyed by its members. The memo was addressed to Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer in charge of the Department of Health and concurrent PhilHealth board chair, as well as to PhilHealth’s acting president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. “In light of the prevailing socioeconomic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide financial relief to our countrymen amidst these difficult times, please be informed that the President has directed the PhilHealth to suspend the above mentioned increase in premium rate and income ceiling for Calendar Year 2023, subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations,” the memorandum read.

Before the issuance of the Malacañang memorandum, PhilHealth's premium rate was expected to go up from 4% to 4.5% in 2023.

The income ceiling was also supposed to increase from P80,000 to P90,000. Before the issuance of the Malacañang memorandum, PhilHealth’s premium rate was expected to go up from 4% to 4.5% in 2023. In the memo, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin wrote to the state health insurer and the Department of Health, asking them to suspend the scheduled increase of the premium rate and income ceiling for 2023.