MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)—The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is said to increase its premium contributions beginning this year.
But such an increase in its monthly premium may be held for some time yet because some senators opposed.
This says that added monthly deductions from the members’ already hard-earned money impact them badly in this difficult COVID-19 times.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri filed recently Senate House Bill No. 1968.
With Zubiri are senators Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Win Gatchalian, and Sonny Angara.
The Senators said that the scheduled increase in the monthly premium contributions is untimely.
They wished it postponed to a time when there is no serious public health issues in the country.
The Bill moves to amend the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act that provides for an increase in premium contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
It maybe recalled that the Universal Health Care program offers unconditional medical care coverage of all Filipinos.
In an earlier statement, Senator Bong Go has confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte is in favor of passing a law that will postpone the increase in PhilHealth premium contributions, given the pandemic.
“I believe in the UHC Act’s goals. But we have to consider our current situation, and now is not the time for this PhilHealth increase,” Zubiri said. (Office of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri/PIA Bukidnon)
