AnaKalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray T. Reyes scored the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for continuing to give limited coverage benefits to its members even as it is posting high profits from premiums and subsidies.
“Patuloy ang pagtaas ng Philhealth premiums pero hindi naman ito nararamdaman ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Ang laki ng kita ng Philhealth pero marami sa ating kababayan ang umaaray dahil halos wala naman nakukuhang benepisyo pag sila ay nangangailangan,” Reyes said.
Rather than focusing on high earnings, Reyes said Philhealth should instead double its efforts to address the high out-of-pocket expenses by patients.
Reyes, who is the vice chair of the House Committee on Health, was appalled after learning that PhilHealth’s gross margin in 2023 was P173.4 billion, coming from its social health insurance program alone.
“Ang laki pala ng kanilang kita so saan napupunta ang pera? Why is it being warehoused? Bakit natin ito tinitipid at hindi ginamit para matulungan ang ating mga kababayan?” Reyes said.
Rather than focusing on high earnings, Reyes said Philhealth should instead double its efforts to address the high out-of-pocket expenses by patients.
“Out of pocket spending for patients are too high. If we are going to pursue the essence of universal healthcare, dapat ang out of pocket ng mga miyembro ay less than 25 percent,” Reyes said.
“Baka mas tamang ibalik na lang sa gobyerno itong kita ng Philhealth. Maybe we can find a way to create a program and ensure na hindi lalampas sa 25 percent ang total bill ng mga pasyente,” he added.
Meanwhile, Reyes said that he will continue to push for the Free Annual Check Up bill to be included in the UHC Law.
Reyes filed House Bill (HB) No. 430, which aims to establish a program that provides Filipinos with free annual check-ups including, but not limited to, blood sugar and cholesterol tests.
Reyes said if the Free Annual Medical Check Up Bill is embodied in the amendments to the UHC Law, it will help institutionalize PhilHealth’s Konsulta Program and provide better primary care to Filipinos.
“Through free annual checkups, many Filipinos would have the opportunity to be diagnosed and treated early before their conditions worsen to life-threatening ailments such as diabetes and heart disease,” he said.
