BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Cordillera Information Officer Magnolia Del Rosario clarified  the  five percent  increase in  premium contribution effective January this year.

Del Rosario, ion a radio interview, explained that the Universal Health Care (UHC) law passed in 2019 allows a gradual increase in the PhilHealth premium rate to be able to sustain the   benefit enhancements for the members.

 Premium rate adjustment  of  2.75 percent was implemented  in 2019; 3% in 2020; 3.5%  in 2021; 4% in 2022; 4.5%  in 2023, and 5%  in 2024.

This last premium hike  pegged  income ceiling of P100,000 at P5,000 monthly  contribution.

Individuals earning P10,000 are  now  required to contribute P500, while monthly income  ranging from P10,000.01 to 99,999.99  will pay  premium varying from P500 to P5,000.

Del Rosario said there is a need for the premium adjustment to fund the benefits rolled out for PhilHealth members. One is the hemodialysis package benefit for kidney patients, which previously covered 90 sessions, increased to 144 in 2022, and  to 156 sessions  in 2023.

Another  is the “PhilHealth Konsulta Package” where members are given free access to medical consultations, health risk screening and assessment, free selected laboratory and diagnostic testing, and  selected drugs and medicines relative to their pre-existing condition.

She said that the PhilHealth Konsulta Package will soon be expanded to Konsulta Package Plus, which will cover other illnesses, including severe malnutrition, and even mental health conditions. (JDP/MAWC- PIA CAR)