PhilHealth Insurance will increase the monthly contributions of the workers’ salary from 4 percent to 4.5 percent next year, as mandated by law, PhilHealth-6 Public Affairs Unit head Janimhe Jalbuna announced recently.
She said a worker, for example, who presently earns P20,000 a month and contributes to PhilHealth P800 at 4 percent will increase to P900 at 4.5 percent.
The P100 difference will be shared by the employer and the employee at P50 each.
Jalbuna said the increase will also see the medical fund rising which will be used to expand and increase the benefits of PhilHealth members.
This year, she noted that PhilHealth increased the hemodialysis coverage of members from 90 sessions per year to 144 sessions, when the monthly dues were adjusted to 4 percent.
Another new package is also soon to be rolled out for mental health as an added service to the members but the guidelines are yet to be released as to its inclusion and benefits, she added.
Jalbuna said PhilHealth membership coverage has now reached 89 percent from an estimated population of close to 8 million in Region 6, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
According to her, their office continues to campaign for membership enrolment for the remaining sectors in the community as the ultimate goal of Universal Health Care is to cover 100 percent of the entire Philippine population.AAL/Lljr/PIA6 Negros Occidental
