By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Despite the pronouncement of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. that he is still studying the proposed premium hike of the state health insurer, Philippine Health Corporation (PhilHealth) chief executive officer (CEO) Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. has pushed anew for higher contributions this year.
Ledesma Jr. justified the proposed premium hike, saying Philhealth members and their beneficiaries will not even need to pay for treatment of certain illnesses under PhilHealth’s planned expansion of coverage.
“Marami kaming nakalatag na enhancements na siguradong mararamdaman ng mga miyembro dahil sa mas mababang bayarin sa ospital, kung hindi man wala nang babayaran pa,” the Philhealth top official said.
He added that PhilHealth will rationalize case rates for bronchial asthma and bacterial sepsis in newborns and COVID-19 inpatient benefits.
Ledesma Jr further said beneficiaries can also expect better packages for severe acute malnutrition in children aged 5 years old and below, and services for physical medicine and rehabilitation.
“Another benefit to look forward to is the enhancement of peritoneal dialysis under the Z Benefits Package,” he bared.
It was learned that PhilHealth members’ contributions were supposed to increase to 5 percent of members’ wages this year, up from 4 percent.
(el Amigo/MNM)
