PhilHealth welcomes moves to halt premiums for minimum wage earners

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will comply if the government passes legislation postponing premium contributions for minimum wage earners, its president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said on Friday.

This was his response when asked for a comment on House Resolution 1595, filed by House Appropriations Committee Senior Vice Chairperson and Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo on Monday.

READ: Quimbo: House backs wage hike, but will study proposals intently

The resolution urges PhilHealth to temporarily suspend premium contributions for minimum wage earners while the review of benefits expansion and contribution reduction is ongoing.

“We really welcome this move — any move that will help the poor [and] indigents. Of course, we are full support,” Ledesma said in a press conference.

“We will comply [with] what legislation will be pursued by the government. If they proceed with it, there will be no problem, we will support it,” he added.

READ: Palace didn’t object to hike in premium, says PhilHealth chief 

According to Quimbo, the resolution aims to “utilize the unspent appropriations allocated to PhilHealth for premium subsidies, providing immediate financial relief to the country’s minimum wage earners.”

The PhilHealth chief also mentioned there is an ongoing study regarding the proposed postponement of contributions for base-level earners.