Amid the impending five percent (5%) increase in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) premium rates this year as scheduled under the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee reiterated his call to immediately apply the 30% across-the-board increase in the agency’s offered health benefits, saying that any delay in implementing the increase is an injustice to Filipinos.
“Nalulungkot at nadidismaya po tayo na mukhang mauuna pang maipatupad ang dagdag na singil sa premium ng PhilHealth doon sa matagal na nating panawagan na 30% increase sa lahat ng benefit packages and coverage ng ahensya,” Lee said.
“Habang pinatatagal ang pagpapatupad ng hinihingi nating increase, marami ang pinipiling tiisin na lang ang karamdaman kaysa magpagamot at marami din ang di-magkandaugaga sa pag-aalala kung saan kukuha ng pambayad sa ospital,” he added.
PhilHealth on Friday announced that its premium rate will increase to 5% from the previous 4%. The state health insurer said that P17-B will be collected as an additional revenue of the agency due to the increased premium rates to be used in expanding the benefits and programs it offers to members.
Even before the scheduled increase on PhilHealth premium rates, Lee has consistently and persistently stressed that the agency had the funds to cover much-needed increases in members’ benefits.
“Habang pinatatagal ang pagpapatupad ng hinihingi nating increase, marami ang pinipiling tiisin na lang ang karamdaman kaysa magpagamot at marami din ang di-magkandaugaga sa pag-aalala kung saan kukuha ng pambayad sa ospital.”
It can be recalled that in September last year during the DOH budget briefing, Lee revealed that PhilHealth had P466-B worth of investible funds and P68.4-B net income. Given these available funds, he urged the agency to expand its healthcare package offered to our countrymen.
In a letter addressed to PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. in October 2023, Lee formally requested in writing and recommended to the PhilHealth management a 30% increase in all benefit packages and coverage provided by the Corporation.
According to the lawmaker from Bicol, “Anong pakinabang ng sobra-sobrang pondo sa PhilHealth kung natutulog lang ito sa bangko at hindi nagagamit pandagdag sa serbisyo para sa mga miyembro? Malaking kasalanan at inhustisya ito kung hindi agad gamitin para tulungan at pagaanin ang pasanin ng mga nangangailangan.”
Lee also filed House Resolution No. 1407 in October 2023 urging PhilHealth to adjust its coverage since its case rate has not been reviewed for over a decade and is no longer responsive to the hospitalization cost of the beneficiaries.
Lee stated that “Dahil sa inflation, umaaray ang lahat sa nagtaasang presyo ng mga bilihin at serbisyo. For example, room rates in hospitals have increased—ang dating P1,000, nasa P1,500 na. At itong case rates o basehan kung gaano kalaki ang sinasagot ng PhilHealth sa mga bayarin sa pagpapagamot ng iba’t ibang sakit, 11 na taon na itong hindi narereview kung angkop at sapat pa ba ang naitutulong. Malaking bagay kung maitataas natin ng 30% ang sinasagot ng PhilHealth in all packages and benefits.”
The lawmaker also said that PhilHealth should have no limit on its covered dialysis sessions, chemotherapy, heart bypass surgery, and other diagnostic tests and preventive measures to ease the burden of patients and their families.
“It is inevitable that our countrymen worry about getting sick because of the high costs of quality medical care. Kung ang mayayaman nga naba-bankrupt ‘pag tinamaan ng malubhang sakit, paano pa ang mahihirap nating kababayan?” the solon asked.
“Winner Tayo Lahat kung ang PhilHealth ay hindi umaastang isang state investment company, at kung tutuparin nito ang mandatong maging maaasahan, may puso at may malasakit na health insurance provider,” he added.
