Suspending PhilHealth collection not feasible – DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) disagrees with calls to suspend the collection of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) premium contributions this year.

According to Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, PhilHealth is continuously improving its benefit packages for members.

“It might be difficult to do it (benefits increase) while there is a moratorium. It will be impractical to increase the benefits while there is moratorium in the premium payment,” Herbosa, who serves as chair of the PhilHealth board, said yesterday in a radio interview.

“It’s either there will be a moratorium but we would withhold the improvement of benefits, or vice versa. But it cannot be both,” he stressed.

However, Herbosa said they will subject this proposal to a study so it can be carefully evaluated.

“We will also have to check if the funding of PhilHealth can handle it,” he said.

On Jan. 1, 2025, PhilHealth started implementing the 50-percent adjustment in the case rates of selected medical benefits for its members.

According to the state health insurer, the improvement of benefits aims to lower the out-of-pocket expenses of members.

Marikina second district Rep. Stella Quimbo earlier urged PhilHealth to seriously consider a one-year moratorium on its premium collections.

Quimbo said PhilHealth should consider this proposal since the agency has massive excess funds that can reportedly be used to maximize member benefits.