The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will impose a 0.5% increase in the contribution of its direct contributors.
Individuals who earn below ₱10,000 per month have a fixed ₱350 per month contribution. Those who earn ₱10,000 to ₱69,000 a month will have a contribution worth ₱350 to ₱2,449 while ₱70,000- and-above income earners per month have a fixed contribution of ₱2,450 per month.
The direct contributors are Filipinos aged 21 and above with the capability to pay such as employees with formal employment, housekeepers, self-earning individuals, professional practitioners, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Filipinos living abroad, and dual citizenship lifetime members.
Under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, there will be a 0.5% increase in the premium rate annually starting 2021 until the 5% limit is completed in 2025. The additional contribution will help fund the PhilHealth reforms under the UHC such as automatic membership of all Filipinos into the National Health Insurance Program, immediate eligibility of all Filipinos to PhilHealth benefits, assignment of every Filipino to a primary care provider, no copayment or no balance billing for confinements in basic or ward accommodations, and lifetime PhilHealth coverage.
Report from Naomi Tiburcio
