The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) is strongly opposed to the planned increase next year of the premium contribution to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), saying the state health insurer needs to improve its services first.
ECOP President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. expressed dismay at the scheduled hike in the contribution rate by January 2024, pointing to the many complaints purportedly levied against PhilHealth’s services.
At the same time, the business leader called for a revamp of the national insurer’s regulations.
Unless the law is amended, member contributions to PhilHealth are set to increase in January in accordance with the Universal Healthcare Law.
The looming increase comes after two previous hikes had been postponed, according to the agency.
Based on the schedule, the contribution rate will be increased to five percent from the current four percent as part of PhilHealth’s plan to expand its members’ benefits.
Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said the employers’ group is questioning the increase because “there are so many complaints against PhilHealth.”
“Dapat gawin dyan sa PhilHealth, revamp, baguhin uli ang rules nila. Sayang lang kontribusyon. Marami nang tao ang nagrereklamo. Covid-19 lang yata binabayaran. Ngayon halos walang pakinabang ang tao. Dapat i-review ‘yan. Dapat imbestigahin yan bakit ganyan,” he said.
In contrast, Ortiz-Luis said employers agree to the scheduled increase in worker contribution to the Pag-IBIG Fund next year.
He said the savings and housing loan agency has postponed its slated increase three times upon the employers’ request, so ECOP in turn is accepting of the contribution hike.
“We requested for the postponement three times and were heard three times. Now following the third postponement, we’ve agreed. We talked about it but the increase has not yet been implemented. They want to go and ask Malacanang for permission first.”
Pag-IBIG earlier said the higher contribution would start by January as approved by the board of trustees. It said that before January, it would again confirm with Malacanang about pushing through with the increase.
Last March, Pag-IBIG suspended the contribution hike that was supposed to take effect this year since workers and business owners were still recovering from the impact of the pandemic.
By January, a member’s contribution would on average rise from P100 to P200, with the employer contributing the same amount. – Press release
