WITH an overwhelming 276 votes, the House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill giving the President the power to suspend the increase in premiums of “direct contributors” of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), members.

House Bill 6772 was principally authored by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez,.

The suspension of the increase would result in some savings for millions of government and private sector workers, professionals, self-employed, and other Philhealth contributors who are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Daily wage earners and many employees, who comprise the majority of Philhealth members, would save at least P50 a month or P600 a year from their health insurance premium payment if the adjustment were suspended.

Those earning more will naturally save more, he said.

Under Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Act, contributions will increase from 4 percent last year to 4.5 percent this year, or from the minimum monthly premium of P400 to P450.

The rate will further go up to 5 percent starting next year.

The bill would amend RA 11223, which was enacted in 2018.

The Speaker’s co-authors are Majority Leader Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, Senior Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre of party-list group Tingog Sinirangan.

Their proposed amendment states: “The President of the Philippines may, upon recommendation of the Philhealth board, suspend and adjust the period of implementation of the scheduled increase of premium rates during national emergencies or calamities, or when public interest so requires.”

The objective of the Universal Health Care Act itself, which is to “ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services, and protected against financial risk.”

Based on Philhealth’s computation for this year, they said those earning P10,000 and below would pay a premium of P450, those with an income of more than P10,000 up to P89,999.99 would contribute P450 to P4,050, while those making P90,000 or more would chip in P4,050.

“While Philhealth only aims to fulfill and remain faithful to its mandate, imposing a higher premium on Filipinos in these current conditions where most of them are grappling with the pandemic will definitely enforce a new round of financial burden to its members,” they added.

They pointed out that the nation has barely recovered from losses and difficulties caused by the pandemic, as many businesses have not yet reopened and many people remain jobless.

The Speaker and his colleagues stressed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself has supported calls to defer this year’s increase in Philhealth premiums.