The Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a proposed measure amending the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Act.
Voting 19-0-0, senators passed on third and final reading proposed Senate Bill (SB) No. 2620, which seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 11223 including the revision of the premium rates for direct contributors of state insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
SB No. 2620 consolidates proposals from seven bills authored by Senators JV Ejercito, Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, Grace Poe, Imee Marcos, Ronald Dela Rosa, Sonny Angara, Bong Revilla, Christopher Go, and Raffy Tulfo.
“Sa pagpasa ng panukala na ito, malapit nang maging ganap na batas ang pinangako natin na mas mababang PhilHealth premium contribution at mas mapalawig pa ang benepisyo nito,” Ejercito, sponsor of the measure, said in his explanation of vote.
(The passage of the measure indicates the nearing implementation of a law lowering PhilHealth premium contribution.)
Under the proposed measure, the PhilHealth premium rate for 2025 decreased from the initial 5% to 4.25%. For 2026, the premium rate would be 4.5%; 4.75% in 2027; and 5% in 2028.
The national government, meanwhile, will be mandated to shoulder 50% of the premium contributions of migrant workers.
SB No. 2620 also states that unpaid premium contributions of distressed migrant workers would not be collected upon their arrival in the Philippines and failure to pay PhilHealth contributions shall not be a grounds for the non-issuance of their overseas employment certificates.
Further, the proposed law authorizes the president to suspend increases in premium contribution rates in the event of a state of national emergency, public health emergency, or state of calamity. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Be the first to comment