By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Cognizant of the economic pressures weighing down on Filipinos’ livelihoods and wallets, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. instructed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to issue a one-time waiver of interest for unpaid contributions of employers, business owners, and self-employed members.
This reprieve likewise includes a moratorium on issuance of penalties for long-standing backlogs, to alleviate the financial burden on the citizenry.
In a video message published on social media on Thursday, President Marcos Jr. underscored the extra financial strain brought about by the 3% compounded interest rate imposed by PhilHealth on unpaid contributions, especially for those who pay on a monthly basis.
“Alam naman namin na yung 3% na binabayad para sa PhilHealth ay medyo, na buwan-buwan, ay ramdam na ramdam ng ating mga kababayan.”
“Kaya gagawa po tayo ngayong taon na ito ng 2026 ang tinatawag nating one-time waiver para sa interes.”
He expounded the nuances of his directive by emphasizing that employers with missed contributions incurred from July 2013 to December 2024 are given a year to settle their backlogs, noting that the amnesty is expected to benefit around 300,000 PhilHealth members.
Pres. Marcos Jr. concluded his video message by encouraging employers to update their records and ensure that their employees are registered with the national health insurer’s Yaman ng Kalusugan (YAKAP) Program to ensure improved access to healthcare services.
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