PhilHealth direct contributors to receive additional incentives

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's (PhilHealth) direct contributors or those who have the capacity to pay premiums will receive additional health care incentives under the Universal Health Care Act to encourage them in paying their contributions, government officials said on Thursday.

"We will come up with a special incentive and a special package for direct contributors for them to continue paying the premiums," Senator JV Ejercito, principal sponsor and co-author of the legislation, said.

Under the newly signed Universal Health Care Act, all Filipinos are automatically enrolled into the National Health Insurance Program either as direct contributors or indirect contributors sponsored by the government such as indigents and senior citizens.

PhilHealth acting president and CEO Dr. Roy Ferrer explained that those who are employed should continue to pay their premiums to keep the insurance funding alive.

"Kailangan ho natin. Hindi po pu-pwede na walang contribution lalo na sa may kakayanan na magbayad ng contribution para mabuhay ang pondo ng PhilHealth," Ferrer said.

Prior to the enactment of the Universal Health Care, the bicameral conference committee pegged that the health care services for 65 percent of the Filipino population will have to be subsidized by the government.

According to a separate report by Lei Alviz on GMA's 24 Oras on Thursday, outpatient services in public clinics will be free of charge. In-patient services in basic accommodations would also be fully covered by PhilHealth.

On the other hand, health care transactions in accredited private clinics, as well as semi-private or private in-patient accommodations would only be partially covered.

Health conditions requiring special medical attention will also soon be accessible to more Filipinos under the new law.

"Sa mga serbisyong nangangailangan ng specialty care like heart, lung, kidney, so itong mga ito dyan ay malamang masi-zero co-payment na tayo dyan," Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

Under the law, construction of primary health care medical facilities, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas shall also be prioritized.

The measure requires P257 billion for the first year of implementation but only P217 billion has been appropriated for it in the proposed 2019 budget.

The Department of Health and some lawmakers, on the other hand, assuaged funding concerns and said that the funding gap of P40 billion will possibly be covered. — Dona Magsino/BAP, GMA News