Deferred premium rate hike to cost PhilHealth P13B this year —spox

PhilHealth on Wednesday said it will lose P13 billion of its expected income this year due to the deferment of the 3.5% premium hike as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"If we will push through with the premium adjustment, we will have additional P13 billion income from our direct contributors," PhilHealth spokesperson Rey Balena said on ANC.

"Our projected income for 2021 is P90 billion, so we will have a P13-billion deficit in this area as far as collection is concerned."

Balena, however, assured the public that PhilHealth has enough resources to implement the Universal Health Care law despite the postponement of the premium rate hike.

"PhilHealth is still liquid. We have reserve fund to weather the situation," he said, adding the state health insurer's reserve fund is worth P137 billion.

"We will proceed with our programs, definitely," he added.

Balena also expressed confidence that the President and his allies in Congress will fulfill their promise of granting PhilHealth additional funding support for the UHC implementation.

The 2021 national budget earmarks P71 billion of subsidy for PhilHealth, mostly for the payment of healthcare coverage for its indirect contributors or those in the low income bracket who cannot afford to pay premium out of their pocket.

"Umaasa kami sa funding na ipinangako ng President at iba pang ahensiya ng pamahalaan,” Balena said.

PhilHealth faced lengthy congressional probes last year due to accusations of corruption among some of its officials, many of whom, including resigned president and CEO Ricardo Morales, have been recommended to face charges. —KBK, GMA News