Inutusan ni Pangulong Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ang Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) na suspendihin ang pagtataas ng premium rate at income ceiling para sa taong 2023, ayon sa Malacañang nitong Lunes.

Ang naturang kautusan ay kinumpirma ng Office of the Press Secretary at Office of the Executive Secretary.

Sa memorandum na pirmado ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, nakasaad na ang nakatakdang taas-singil sa premium rate na mula 4% sa 4.5%, at income ceiling na mula 80,000 sa 90,000 para sa taong 2023 sa ilalim ng Section 10 ng Republic Act No. 11223.

"In light of the prevailing socioeconomic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide financial relief to our countrymen amidst these difficult times, please be informed that the President has directed PhilHealth to suspend the abovementioned increase in premium rate and income ceiling for CY 2023, subject to applicable laws, rules, and regulations," saad sa memorandum.

Ang pagtaas sa singil ay nakapaloob sa Universal Healthcare Law, na nagtatakda na itaas ang PhilHealth contribution rate hanggang maabot ang 5% pagsapit ng 2024.

"The increase in contribution will help fund additional benefits that we are crafting now," paliwanag ni PhilHealth spokesperson Dr. Shirley Domingo.

Sa naturang kautusan ng pangulo, sinabi ng Department of Health  (DOH) at PhilHealth na magpupulong ang PhilHealth board sa Miyerkules.

Ayon sa DOH, ang taas-kontribusyon ay ilalaan sa pagpapalawig ng Universal Health Care Law na awtomatikong nagpapasok sa lahat ng Filipino citizen sa naturang health care system. Kasama sa palalawigin ang mga serbisyong tulad ng free consultation fees, laboratory tests, at iba pang diagnostic services.

“The DOH and PhilHealth recognize the suspension is intended to help our kababayans cope with the increasing prices of commodities caused by inflation,” ayon sa pahayag ng dalawang ahensiya.

“Such moratoriums in increases in premium contributions have been done in years 2020 and 2021. This was in accordance with directives of the Office of the President, and in recognition of the effects of the pandemic during those years,” patuloy nito. —FRJ, GMA Integrated News