CEBU, Philippines – PhilHealth's 3.5 million Individual Paying Members will be paying a new premium starting October 12, 2010 in a bid of the state-run health insurance agency to rationalize its contribution schedule.
Among those categorized as "professionals" are lawyers, accountants, engineers, medical doctors, nurses and teachers, while those in "other professions" include artists, businessmen, consultants, media practitioners and athletes.
PhilHealth however emphasized that for as long as these professionals practice their professions beyond any employee-employer relationship, they can be covered by PhilHealth as IPMs.
In its Circular 24 series of 2010, PhilHealth said that for the first year of implementation, professionals shall be required to pay P600 per quarter or P2,400 for one year.
This will then increase to P900 per quarter or P3,600 annually for the succeeding years.
In the said circular, IPMs shall be segmented according to their professions and occupations wherein a corresponding premium shall be required of them.
PhilHealth, however, set an exemption on this new rate implementation wherein those IPMs whose family income in the last 12 months is below P25,000 based on their Income Tax Returns. The old contribution of P300 per quarter or P100 per month remained.
PhilHealth made an increased of its IPMs nine years ago wherein it increased by P25 from P75 per month to P100 per month. (FREEMAN)