MANILA – PhilHealth has announced that it has enough funds to cover all benefit package payments and plans to expand package rates next year.
At a media forum in Pasig City, Senior Vice President Renato Limsiaco Jr. stated that all Filipinos can access their benefit packages, whether or not they pay monthly premiums.
This announcement follows Congress and the Department of Budget and Management’s decision to allocate only PHP53.26 billion, which covers 14 million out of the 25.28 million indirect contributors to PhilHealth. The state insurer is seeking a budget of PHP150.92 billion to support all its indirect contributors.
Limsiaco mentioned that this year, they received PHP40 million from the sin tax fund and PHP21.73 million from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and PAGCOR (Philippine Amateur Gaming Corporation), totaling PHP61 million.
Looking ahead to next year, he noted expected funding of PHP21.1 million from PCSO for improved benefits and an additional PHP47 million from the sin tax.
These funds will supplement the premiums collected from direct contributors, including government and private sector employees, as well as those who pay for themselves.
As of October 31, PhilHealth has a total fund of PHP485 billion. By November 22, it had collected PHP172.3 billion in premium payments and disbursed PHP148.4 billion for benefits, leaving a balance of PHP23.9 billion.
“This PHP148.4 billion is a record for us,” Limsiaco said. “It’s only November, and we’ve already paid out this much.”
He also reassured the public that the excess fund of PHP23.9 billion will be used to expand benefit package coverages.
