The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) will soon start implementing the collection of increased premium contributions to all its members, including overseas landbased and seabased Filipinos.
Fifteen days after the Philhealth Circular No. 2019-0009 is published in major dailies, Philhealth can start collecting 2.75 percent from the monthly salary. And starting January 2020, Philhealth will increase the contribution rate to 3 percent computed based from the monthly salary of the Philhealth member.
That means, if the Philhealth member earns P10,000 a month or below, his/her monthly contribution for this year will be P275 per month. And if he/she is earning P50,000 and above, his/her monthly contribution shall be P1,375.
Landbased OFWs are required to pay the whole monthly contribution.
Seabased OFWs will be shared equally by the employer and employee.
Ret. Brig. Gen. Ricardo Morales, Philhealth CEO and President, issued the circular last October 25, outlining the rules and guidelines for the payment of increased premium contribution.
The schedule of increase shall be as follows:
OFW advocates have earlier complained that the burden is again being imposed on OFWs to fund the government’s Universal Health Care program.
They cited that the draft Implementing Rules and Regulation is requiring landbased OFWs to pay the premium to the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) before the issuance of overseas employment certificate (OEC).
The Philhealth circular was silent on how the premium shall be collected from OFWs. It will issue a separate Corporate guidelines for landbased OFWs, as well as professional workers.
