PhilHealth also pins hope on President
Inquirer photo/Lyn Rillon
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is hoping that President Marcos would reverse the decision of Congress granting it zero subsidy in the 2025 budget.
But should the President approve the Congress’ current budget bill, PhilHealth assured the public it still has sufficient funds, especially for its nonpaying members.
READ: PhilHealth has zero subsidy for 2025 due to P600B reserve funds
According to Dr. Israel Francis Pargas, PhilHealth senior vice president for the health finance policy sector, they were surprised by the move of the bicameral conference committee to completely scrap the P74-billion subsidy earmarked for the National Health Insurance Program, which would have been used to pay for the benefits of the 16 million Filipino indirect contributors—senior citizens, persons with disabilities, indigents, 4Ps beneficiaries, and those without the capacity to pay.
“We are still hoping that the President will review the bill. However, if this current version of the bill becomes [law], PhilHealth will need to adjust all its plans and directions. We will have to adapt,” he said in an interview on dzBB.
Article continues after this advertisementWhile confident the current funds would suffice for 2025, Pargas warned that potential challenges might emerge by 2026, particularly in administrative expenses.
