Philhealth to get P80B taxpayer subsidy in 2022
STATE insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) will receive an increased taxpayer subsidy of nearly P80 billion next year, Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor said Tuesday.
“The money is for the insurance coverage of millions of so-called indirect contributors, including indigent citizens, the elderly and unemployed persons with disability,” he said.
Defensor said providing insurance cover for these sectors of the population is part of the mandate of the universal health care program.
He added that next year’s Philhealth subsidy amounting to P79,990,995,000 is contained in the proposed P5.024-2022 national budget Congress approved last December 15 before the legislature went on its Christmas recess.
He pointed out that next year’s financial infusion is P8.368 billion higher than this year’s P71.353-billion subsidy.
Defensor stressed that aside from its annual budgetary support, Philhealth collects more than P100 billion from millions of workers from both the private and public sectors.
“So the state health insurer will have more than P180 billion next year for health services for its members,” he said.
