Paying members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) should receive benefits commensurate with their monthly contributions, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said on Friday.
In an interview with broadcaster Deo Macalma over DZRH, Recto said he will meet with PhilHealth officials next week to discuss proposals to expand benefit packages for contributing members, particularly those from the middle class.
“Ayon sa batas, iba ang benefit package para sa kanila. Dagdagan natin ito,” Recto said.
He said he has received concerns from regular contributors who feel their premiums are not matched by equivalent health benefits.
“Naiintindihan ko ang reklamo ng ating mga kababayan sa PhilHealth,” he said, noting that employed members may pay between P30,000 to P60,000 annually in premiums, while PhilHealth disburses substantial public funds for coverage of indigent members.
“Kapag nagkasakit ang 10 milyon, samakatuwid ay P30,000 ang support value niyan. So kung nagbayad ka ng P50,000 to P60,000, ang indigent ay libre. Walang bayad,” Recto said. “So panalo ka. Kaya alam ko, yung mga nagbabayad, dapat taasan natin ang PhilHealth benefits.”
Recto added that he has been recommending expanded benefit packages for contributing members, particularly those in the middle-income bracket.
In July last year, the government implemented a zero balance billing policy in government hospitals, under which PhilHealth covers all remaining hospital expenses for eligible patients.