PIA Press Release
Monday, January 09, 2012

PhilHealth announces new premium contributions

DAGUPAN CITY, January 9 (PIA) –- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation announced the new premium contributions to the National Health insurance Program (NHIP), in support of the Attainment of Universal Health Care (UHC) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The PhilHealth Board, through Resolution No. 1571, series of 2011, approved the increases in the annual premium contribution effective calendar year 2012.

PhilHealth President Eduardo Banzon said part of the enhanced benefits framework is the facilitation of other complementary and supplementary sources of health financing that will be on top of the basic benefit package, thus the need to increase premiums.

“As we increase our rates for members, we will make sure that our stakeholders, particularly the employers, shall have time to prepare for this investment in UHC," Banzon said.

For the National Household Targeting Survey-identified poor, premiums have increased to P2,400 which started last January 1, 2012, primarily financed by the national government as the enhanced benefits will be immediately provided to them.

Members sponsored by local government units (LGUs) will pay a maximum of 50 percent of their premiums, while the rest will be covered by the local government units. Premiums for this group, for individually paying members, and for overseas Filipino workers will also increase to P2,400 by July 2012.

However, these groups can avail of the old P1,200-peso annual rate for as long as these dues are fully paid for before July.

"They can even be locked in to the P1,200 per year rate if they sign up for two years," Banzon said.

For the formal employed sector, premium rates will be pegged at three percent of the basic monthly salary by January 2013, with a maximum salary base of P50,000 to allow employers time for the necessary adjustments.

Banzon also assured members that availment processes at hospitals and other health facilities will be made easier, adding that the expected electronic claims submission will ensure financial protection and greater services to Philhealth members.(JCR/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan with reports from PhilHealth)