PhilHealth hikes premium July 1

Manila, Philippines -  Higher premiums for individual members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will take effect on July 1.

PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Eduardo Banzon said the premium of members under the individually paying program (IPP) will increase from P1,200 to P2,400 per year.

Banzon said the move is aimed at enhancing the “financial risk protection” of PhilHealth members in line with the universal health care thrust of the Aquino administration.

“To efficiently implement product improvements and sustain the provision of National Health Insurance Program benefit packages, increasing investment in health care through the adjustment of current premium contribution rates for all members is essential,” he added.

The adjustment was provided for in Philhealth Board Resolution No. 1572 that was issued last year.

IPP members pertain to self-employed individuals; those who have been previously employed and are currently without means of income; employees of international organizations and foreign governments based in the Philippines that do not have prior agreement with PhilHealth for the coverage of their Filipino employees; and unemployed individuals who are not qualified as indigents.

Also covered are parents who are not qualified as legal dependents, indigents or retirees/pensioners; retirees who did not meet the minimum of 120 monthly premium contributions to qualify as non-paying members; and children who are not qualified as legal dependents.

IPP members may also belong to “organized groups” like PhilHealth’s Kalusugan Sigurado at Abot-Kaya sa Philhealth Program or KaSAPI program.

IPP members can avail themselves of “lock-in” by advancing their payment for two years for P1,200 per year on or before June 30.

“If paid on or after July 1, 2012, the annual premium contribution will be P2,400 per year,” the circular stated.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with PhilHealth vice president Shirley Domingo for the health coverage of thousands of poor city residents.

Under the MOA, the city government will be paying P600 per member covering July 2012 to July 2014.

Manila social welfare chief Jay de la Fuente said they would be giving away an additional 17,777 PhilHealth cards to Manilans. – With Sandy Araneta