MANILA — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Wednesday gave its full support to a measure granting the President the power to suspend the agency’s scheduled premium hike.
Acting PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma also gave assurance that the suspension of the premium hike as provided for under the Universal Health Care law would not adversely affect the agency’s operations.
“PhilHealth can continue assisting the Filipino people even with this development,” Ledesma said. “I can assure all that not only shall the case packages continue to be maintained, but also they will even be enhanced despite this.”
PhilHealth spokesman Rey Baleña said the agency has been supportive of President Marcos’ order to suspend the premium rate hike for this year. “We will respect the wisdom of Congress on this issue,” he said.
Marcos previously ordered the deferment of the premium rate increase of PhilHealth from four percent last year to 4.5 percent this year.
Last Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill giving the President the power to suspend the scheduled increase of premium payments.
