ILOILO City – As of Aug. 31 this year, 7,270,268 residents in Western Visayas were registered with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), or 89.84 percent of the 8,092,366 projected population for calendar year 2023.
The breakdown is as follows:
* Aklan – 551,415 or 88.83 percent of the 620,744 projected population for 2023
* Antique – 546,911 or 87.15 percent of the 627,581 projected population
* Capiz – 757,589 or 91.27 percent of the 830,058 projected population
* Guimaras – 176,055 or 92. 48 percent of the 190,375 projected population
* Iloilo – 2,368,537 or 91.35 percent of the 2,592,781 projected population
* Negros Occidental – 2,869,761 or 88.82 percent of the 3,230,827 projected population
PhilHealth Region 6 was also able to collect P3.104 billion in contributions so far in 2023.
It targets reaching all qualified population in the region and is encouraging non-members to visit its regional office in La Paz district or in any nearby branch or satellite offices.
“Kon sin-o pa dyan ang indi miembro sang Philhealth, magpa-miembro na. Indi na naton paghulaton nga may ara sang emerhensya, may ara sang magmasakit sa pamilya naton kag amo pa lang kita magpa-member,” said Janimhe C. Jalbuna, head of the Public Affairs Unit of PhilHealth-6, on Wednesday morning, Nov. 29.
Membership applications are free, Jalbuna emphasized. If a member has the capacity to pay, then he is obliged to pay the premium contribution. While those without the capacity to pay are covered by PhilHealth’s mechanism catering to indigent persons, as long as they undergo assessment.
“Kon indi working, wala capacity to pay, puede sia ma-cover naton as indirect contributor, so kinahanglan ma-assess ang financial assistance nga wala sia sang financial capacity,” Jalbuna added.
Those 21 years of age and older are qualified to be members.
Premium Contribution to Increase in 2024
Jalbuna mentioned the impending premium adjustment for direct contributors starting in January 2024, as stated under Republic Act No. 11223 or An Act Instituting Universal Health Care for All Filipinos, Prescribing Reforms in the Health Care System.
Next year, the premium contribution will increase to five percent from this year’s four percent.
Jalbuna noted they have yet to receive guidelines on whether the premium adjustment will go through. This year, the premium contribution of direct contributors is supposedly at 4.5 percent, but the national government maintained it at four percent due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Wala pa kita guidelines coming from the central office kon i-defer sia naton or i-implement gid naton kon ano ang ara sa laye. Pero amo na ang advance info namon, nga next year just in case, ma-five percent gid sia kag ang aton nga ceiling ma-increase,” said Jalbuna.
With the five percent premium contribution, employees with an income of P10,000 will have a monthly contribution of P500.
“Kon nagasaka imo sweldo, nagasaka imo man contribution kada bulan. Example kon nahimu sweldo mo nga P20,000, we get the five percent of P20,000 that is already P1,000 kada bulan,” she added.
Although for the employed sector, the contribution will be paid in part by the employee and employer.
“What’s good with the employed sector? Kay shared sia, 50 percent lang ang kakason sa aton sweldo, and the other half ang bayaran sang aton employer,” Jalbuna explained.
On the other hand, voluntary-paying members like overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will feel the impact the most as they shoulder the contribution in its entirety.
Jalbuna assured there will be a media advisory in case the adjustment is confirmed./PN
