PCCI: Suspend PhilHealth premium hike, raise benefits

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is urging the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to increase the health benefits package and suspend the implementation of the hike in PhilHealth members’ contributions.

“Despite posting surplus funds, the agency’s health insurance coverage is still at the bare minimum. Members continue to disproportionately shoulder the burden of their hospital and health care expenses,” PCCI president Enunina Mangio said.

PhilHealth had a net income of P173.46 billion in 2023. While PhilHealth has substantial reserve funds, the PCCI said the state-run insurer’s financial assistance to its members continues to be severely deficient.

“These funds are contributions from the hard-earned money of its members. These should be plowed back to members in the form of higher rate of benefits including hospitalization, and the expansion of covered illnesses,” Mangio said.

Earlier, PhilHealth told lawmakers they will raise benefit packages by an additional 30 percent before the end of the year.

Last Feb.14, PhilHealth increased the benefit packages by 30 percent.

The PCCI is also urging the government to suspend implementation of the increase in PhilHealth members’ contributions.

“PhilHealth has shown its solvency. It does not need another rate hike to sustain its operations and services to its members, it needs efficient management of its funds,” Mangio said.

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) asked the Supreme Court to dismiss for lack of merit the petition challenging the diversion of P89.9 billion of PhilHealth excess funds to unprogrammed appropriations in the national budget.

In an 85-page comment, the OSG, representing the respondents in the petition, refuted the claims of petitioners that Section 1(d) of XLIII of the General Appropriations Act of 2024, which contains this year’s national budget, violated the Constitution.

The provision was the basis of the Department of Finance (DOF) circular that directed the transfer of unused funds from government-owned and controlled corporations, particularly PhilHealth, to the national treasury to augment the government’s unprogrammed appropriations.

Solicitor