MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is looking into the request of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa to suspend the 5-percent premium hike on contributions to the PhilHealth, Malacañang said Wednesday.

"The President is studying the request," Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a text message to reporters.

In a letter forwarded to Malacañang on Tuesday, Herbosa urged Marcos to suspend the contribution hike, saying the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation "has enough money to continue giving benefits."

Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Healthcare Law mandated the annual increase in PhilHealth contributions from 2020. This was implemented until 2022, which saw premiums grow to 4 percent.

But the Office of the President in 2022 suspended the premium hike for 2023 due to "socioeconomic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic."

The hike resumed in January 2024, pegged at 5 percent.

"Medyo malaki siya, parang lalabas P1,300. Noong sinuspend siya, wala namang nawala sa benepisyo. Nabigay pa din at increased pa nga eh," Herbosa said in an interview.

"It will not be hurt by delaying the increase in premium. I need to see good actuarial. You need to have a science-based policy. Hindi yung whim na itataas mo lang," he said.

"There are other things supporting healthcare. MAIP (Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients) is one of them, I was given an additional P40 billion. You have to look at the big picture, not only PhilHealth."

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The premium hike suspension will be tackled in Philhealth's board meeting scheduled later Wednesday.

In a text message to the media, PhilHealth president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma said the insurer was “just following the UHC law.”

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“In case PBBM directs us to suspend, no problem po. We shall comply immediately,” he said.

SENATORS REACT

Senators expressed their support for Herbosa's appeal to suspend the PhilHealth rate hike.

According to Senator Risa Hontiveros, the deferment of the implementation of the PhilHealth rate hike will be very helpful for Filipinos who are already struggling due to inflation.

"Sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain, singil sa tubig at kuryente, pamasahe at iba pa, at pagbagsak ng halaga ng kinikita ng ating kababayan dahil sa inflation, the deferment of the implementation of the PhilHealth premium rate hike is not only considerate, but also sensitive to the economic burdens carried by our kababayan," she said.

For Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, despite the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency, people are still struggling economically.

"Bagama't lifted na ang State of Public Health Emergency dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic, hanggang ngayon ay ramdam pa ng mga kababayan natin ang epekto nito sa ating ekonomiya. Para sa kanila, ang bawat piso ay mahalaga. Pambili pa nila ito ng bigas at ulam," he said.

"Marami pa rin tayong mga kababayan ang nahihirapan sa kanilang hanap-buhay. Huwag na nating dagdagan pa ang bigat ng hirap na kanilang dinadala," Go added.

Senator JV Ejercito also expressed his support for Herbosa's proposal, as the principal sponsor of the UHC.

"Being the principal sponsor of the UHC, I support Sec. Ted Herbosa’s proposal to suspend increase in Philhealth contributions because there is a pending bill that I filed on amendments to the UHC to adjust premium rates as we are still recovering from the pandemic," he said.

PRIVATE HOSPITALS NOT AFFECTED

For the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPi), the suspension merely means delaying the additional contribution that the public will have to shell out.

“Very temporary ang suspending. That is stated in the law so you cannot avoid it unless you repeal or change the law. Ang pinakamaganda i-amend nila ito, wag na tayo magbayad,” said Dr. Jose Rene De Grano, president of the PHAPi.

The DOH said PhilHealth stands to earn an additional P17 billion from the 5 percent premiums. But it also reiterates that it has enough money.

“Umabot na po ng P400 billion yung investments nila. They can still get some of that investment and continue to subsidize,” Herbosa said.

De Grano said negotiations between PhilHealth and private hospitals on outstanding debts amounting to an estimated P10 billion were ongoing.

“They have promised to go back sa pagkakautang before. Yung current accounts, nagbabayad naman sila past 3 to 4 months. Still, there are mga receivables ang mga hospitals especially yung mga utang noon pa,” De Grano said.

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