Group seeks suspension of PhilHealth premium hike

MANILA, Philippines — With the financial difficulties that workers continue to face, the labor group Federation of Free Workers (FFW) is seeking suspension of the increase in premiums for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or PhilHealth this year.

“We urge President Marcos and the PhilHealth Board to defer the PhilHealth premium hike for the time being,” FFW said in a statement.

The group noted that workers are still trying to restore their purchasing power, which has significantly eroded due to inflation, and continue to lobby in Congress for the proposed across-the-board legislated P150 daily wage increase.

Aside from these, FFW said that the country’s workers have also recently seen a hike in contributions to the Pag-IBIG Fund and increases in the Light Rail Transit fare, food prices as well as water rates.

An increase in PhilHealth premiums, it argued, would only add to the burden of Filipino workers.

The FFW also noted that Republic Act 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act, is still under review by Congress and thus PhilHealth should have taken a more considerate approach to raising the prices of its premium.

It claimed that PhilHealth could, even without a premium hike, sustain itself given its current substantial funds.

PhilHealth is implementing a five-percent increase in premiums from the previous years’ four percent rate starting this month. The increase will affect those earning from P10,000 to P100,000 per month.

Pending a review of the PhilHealth law, the FFW suggested that the coverage of overseas Filipino workers be made optional. It also urged for workers’ representation on the PhilHealth board.

PhilHealth president Emmanuel Ledesma said they would impose the increase provided under the law, unless they receive an order from Malacañang to suspend it.

Ledesma warned that a suspension could mean a P17-billion reduction from the PhilHealth fund this year.