Go backs suspension of PhilHealth premium hike

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go backed the move to suspend the increase in premium contributions of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) members, but he asked the government to see to it that Filipinos will continue to have access to health services.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography said it is only reasonable to suspend the premium hike as Filipinos in the light of global and national economic challenges.

He noted that at the height of the pandemic, former president Rodrigo Duterte stopped the increase in PhilHealth contribution.

“Many of our OFWs are expecting additional assistance from the government, especially those who lost their jobs or whose livelihoods were affected by the pandemic,” Go said.

The Universal Health Care (UHC) law guarantees equitable access to quality and affordable health care by making all Filipinos members of PhilHealth.

However, to ensure sufficiency in funding and to keep the financial viability of PhilHealth, the UHC mandates a schedule of premium contribution rates increase until 2025.

To unburden Filipinos, Go said that he is endorsing bills that seek to grant the President of the Philippines the authority to suspend the scheduled increase in PhilHealth premium contribution rates.

He also backed efforts to study the possible amendment of the UHC law in consideration of the concerns raised by some sectors.

Meanwhile, despite his support for the suspension of the premium rate increase, Go asked relevant agencies to continue providing Filipinos with the treatment and care they are entitled to and to continue enhancing the benefits afforded to them.

Earlier, Go pushed for a special provision under the PhilHealth 2023 budget indicating the use of the P21billion budget to improve the benefits under the Universal Health Care Act.

He proposed that this budget should be used for the expansion of free dialysis coverage, mental health outpatient coverage, the implementation of the comprehensive outpatient benefit package, including free medical checkup and other increases in benefit packages.

Go filed Senate Bill 190 mandating PhilHealth to cover all costs of dialysis treatments, sessions and procedures done in PhilHealth-accredited health facilities.