Following the suspension of the PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation) rate hike, Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Representative Bernadette Herrera recommends that only a “targeted” group of members should benefit from this move.

While favoring this move, Herrera suggests that PhilHealth members earning P250,000 and below should be the only ones exempted, instead of everyone being covered by the 2-year deferment.

The Deputy Speaker then insisted that she is open to raise the deferment bar to around P300,000 to P350,000.

Self-paying self-employed members should be included in the group as well, Herrera insisted.

Additionally, she underscored the impacts of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) to the employers, emphasizing the MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises)
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“We must also consider the plight of the employers, particularly small businesses which have suffered much from the economic impact of the pandemic and lockdowns,” the congresswoman said.

“Deferment also for them but there should be a way to qualify who can avail of or qualify for the deferment,” Herrera added.

As for the PhilHealth funds, Herrera assured that she is “inclined to slash by 100 percent the salaries or honorarium of all PhilHealth board members and limit them to reimbursements for expenses incurred to attend the board meeting.”

“We need to know from the PhilHealth actuarians the impact of the proposed deferment or suspension and whether Congress can offset the impact by making up for the gap and maybe augmenting their funds by reallocating portions of the PhilHealth budget or by infusing new funding, she ended.”