MANILA – The Universal Health Care Act guarantees equal access to quality and affordable healthcare for all Filipinos, but the law has a catch as contributions of members of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) need to go up to shoulder the expanded benefits of state-subsidized health services even to non-members.
PhilHealth members’ contribution is expected to increase to 5 percent come 2025 from the current 2.75 percent for those earning P10,000 to P50,000 a month.
The hike in members’ premium is necessary to finance the funding gap for the universal healthcare coverage, amounting to an estimated P40 billion.
Under the law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last week, all Filipino citizens are automatically enrolled into the National Health Insurance Program either as direct contributors or those who have the capacity to pay premiums, or indirect contributors sponsored by the government such as indigents and senior citizens.
It has a funding requirement of P257 billion, but was given an appropriation of only P217 billion under the proposed 2019 national budget.
“Meron pa po talaga tayong funding gap… Ano kasi, nung kinuwenta nag-recalibrate tayo ng ating budget for the first year, ang ating budgetary requirement is about P275 billion pero ang Department of Finance po ang nahanapan nila ng funding nasa P217 billion pa lang. So meron pa tayong P40 billion kakulangan na ito nga ‘yung hahabulin antin,” Health undersecretary Enrico Domingo said.
The law particularly states where the funding will be sourced—mainly from sin taxes on alcohol and tobacco products, revenue from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the annual budget of the Department of Health, and PhilHealth members’ premium.
With this, member’s contributions will gradually increase to 5 percent by 2025.
“The increases are necessary because there are a lot of additional benefits as needed in the Universal Health Care so the increase in benefits will need also additional sustainable funding,” PhilHealth spokesperson Shirley Domingo said.
PhilHealth member Ren Gornez said she agrees with increasing the premium if it will result in better health services.
“Nagamit ko siya kasi nag-less naman ‘yung sa surgery ko si PhilHealth. Tumulong si PhilHealth so para sa ‘kin mas pabor ako na in-improve pa ‘yung service ni PhilHealth. Kahit may additional, okay lang,” she said.
The implementing rules and regulations for the law are being crafted.
The public is expected to feel the benefits of the law before the end of the year. (GMA News)
