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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) –– President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered PhilHealth to suspend the collection of higher premiums from Filipino workers abroad, his spokesman Harry Roque said Monday.
“Habang meron tayong krisis, the heartbreaking experience of President (ay) huwag na muna tayong magpataw ng karagdagang pahirap sa ating mga OFWs, lalong lalo na sa panahon na napakarami sa kanilang nare-repatriate at nawalan ng Trabaho [While we are facing a crisis, the President decided not to impose additional burden on OFWs for now, especially at a time when so many of them have been repatriated and have lost their jobs]”Roque said at his regular press conference, adding that his membership may be” voluntary “for now.
He added that Duterte also suspended the higher premium rates that apply to OFW wages. “Iyan Naman offers you the possibility to use Kalihim of Kalusugan and sinuspinde ang. largest collection for PhilHealth [That has been acted upon swiftly by the Health secretary, who suspended the increased collections for PhilHealth]Roque added.
Thousands of Filipinos have flown home when they lost jobs abroad, and the Department of Labor offered one-time aid worth A $ 10,000 to repatriated workers.
RELATED: Cash Aid Extended to 86,000 OFW, More Than Half the Target – DOLE
Vice President and spokeswoman for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Dr. Shirley Domingo, said the agency is still awaiting specific instructions from Malacañang.
“‘Yung sustainability and achievement of the goals of the Universal Health Care Act, always we need funds for that, “Domingo told CNN Philippines’ Ngayon press room.
“It will affect the fund. Hinihintay natin ang [we are waiting for] Malacañang’s communication on this, ica-clarify natin ‘yun –– will be short-term lang during the COVID pandemic, because we have to have some long-term sustainability measures. We have to evaluate everything. “
OFWs are required to remit 3 percent of their annual wages to PhilHealth calculated from a monthly pay range of ₱ 10,000 to ₱ 60,000, above last year’s rate of 2.75 percent. By 2021, the contribution will rise to 3.5 percent and will be increased annually until the share reaches 5 percent by 2024.
The PhilHealth Circular 2020-0014 issued last month implements the Universal Health Law by requiring all OFWs to submit their proof of income, from which the amount of their premium payments will be calculated. Foreign currency wages will be converted first to US dollars and then to pesos, which will then be the basis of the contribution.
For example, an OFW earning $ 400 or ₱ 20,800 per month (starting at an exchange rate of ₱ 52 per dollar) will have to pay ₱ 7,488 to PhilHealth for the year. The agency allows a down payment of ₱ 2,400, with the option to pay the balance in quarterly installments. Sea-based OFWs will be charged monthly, and will be automatically deducted by your manning agencies from your wages.
The president and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Ricardo Morales, said separately that the agency is considering a longer payment period, as well as optional contributions after the negative reaction in the collection of insurance premiums. of health in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.
“I’m sure hindi pa naman matatapos ito ng [this crisis won’t end by] May 30, (then) we are seeing a longer period of the moratorium. In effect, a flexible pay period, “Morales said during the Laging Handa briefing.
Currently, premium payments from OFW, as well as other members of the state insurance firm, have been on hold until May 30 due to the Bayanihan Heal as One Act, but the agency is looking to extend this further. .
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and several lawmakers have said they will ask PhilHealth to suspend collecting more contributions from Filipino workers abroad to ease their financial problems amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Voluntary bonuses
Roque added that the president’s order made all OFW contributions to the state insurer “voluntary”, against a PhilHealth order that places about 10 million workers abroad as part of its funding base.
The UHC law makes all Filipinos automatic members of PhilHealth and eligible to take advantage of selected medical services for free. The rising cost of implementation, which was set at ₱ 257 billion in the first year, led authorities to raise additional funds through higher contributions, as well as additional tax collections.
For the coming years, all premiums must be settled in quarterly installments or in full annually. If the premiums are not settled on time, a “monthly compound interest” will be generated, according to the circular.
However, Morales said PhilHealth needs a broader base of contributing members. He noted that the agency currently lists 3.6 million OFWs launching regularly.
In 2019, OFW and their families used $ 1.7 billion worth of medical services after contributing $ 1 billion to the PhilHealth fund. Of these, 69 percent have been used by their dependents in the Philippines, while less than a third were used directly by OFWs to cover their own medical expenses.
OFWs who become ill abroad must first settle their fees with the foreign medical center and then submit receipts and documents to PhilHealth so they can claim their reimbursement, Domingo said.
‘Insensitive’
OFW groups started a Change.org petition addressed to PhilHealth last week against these premium payments. The petition has surpassed 390,000 signatures as of Monday morning.
However, PhilHealth said the rules were announced on November 23, 2019.
READ: Largest PhilHealth Contributions Starting January 2020
“These ambitious health goals must be supported by adequate funds raised through higher premium rates,” Morales also said in a statement, hinting that it would be difficult to change policy.
“As a government agency, sensitive to the well-being and well-being of all Filipinos, PhilHealth is committed to continuing to explore ways to soften and alleviate the impact of the increased premium rate, but cannot change the Act.”
Senator Joel Villanueva told CNN Philippines’ The fountain Congress will “analyze” the OFW community’s petition against premium payments, while several lawmakers also criticized the new rule. Senator Kiko Pangilinan also said that the April PhilHealth circular was “callous and untimely” as it came right in the middle of the coronavirus crisis.
READ: Online Statement Facing PhilHealth Premium Increase for Migrant Workers Gets Support from Authorities and Groups
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who chairs the Senate Health Committee, has now asked the state insurance firm to consider delaying the collection of higher premiums to ease the burden on OFWs. He also asked PhilHealth to exempt people classified as “troubled Filipinos abroad.”
The UHC Law authorized both houses of Congress in December 2018 and was enacted by President Rodrigo Duterte on February 20, 2019.
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