MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and Social Security System (SSS) members will now have to pay higher monthly contributions after the earlier announced rate hike took effect on January 1, 2014.
Employed PhilHealth members who used to pay monthly contributions of P175 will now have to pay P200.
The contributions will be equally shared by the employer and the employee.
PhilHealth announced in October 2013 that IPMs with a monthly income of P25,000 and below will have to pay the new premium annual rate of P2,400.
Aside from self-employed and voluntary members, IPMs include those under the Kalusugang Sigurado at Abot-Kaya sa PhilHealth Insurance program and the group enrollment scheme.
IPMs can choose from three payment schemes: P600 per quarter, P1,200 semi-annually or P2,400 per annum.
IPMs with an income of more than P25,000, on the other hand, shall continue to pay P3,600 in annual premium.
Meanwhile, employed SSS members will be paying an additional 0.3 percent in their monthly contributions.
Self-employed, voluntary members and overseas Filipino workers (OFW) will be paying 0.6 percent more every month.
An employee earning P10,000 a month, for instance, will now have to contribute P1,100, with P746.70 to be shouldered by the employer.
Self-employed, voluntary members, and OFWs with a monthly income of P10,000 will have to shoulder the whole amount.
Meanwhile, Malacañang defended the increase in the contribution rate of SSS and Philhealth members. Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said the increase has been the result of study.
"Iyan naman pong mga bagay na yan ay produkto ng pag-aaral, pag-aanalisa (analyze) at pagtataya, assessment on costs and benefits. Kasi po hindi naman maaaring libre iyong mga benepisyong yan. Kinakailangan po ay magkaroon ng pagtutuos kung sino ang mag-aasume ng burden," Coloma said in a press briefing.
“Kaya sa lahat naman po ng pagkakataon ay pinag-aaralan kung ano ang pinakamainam na balance between costs and benefits at tinitiyak naman na hindi magkakaroon ng masyadong mabigat na pasanin doon sa mga empleyado o sa mga beneficiaries."
- With report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
Pinoys face higher PhilHealth, SSS contributions this month | ABS-CBN News
Pinoys start paying higher PhilHealth contributions this month
Pinoys to face higher SSS contributions starting this month