PhilHealth's contribution hike starting June already effective last January

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) said its contribution hike this June is retroactive and will be covering premiums starting from January.

"All Direct Contributors are hereby advised that the premium rate for (Calendar Year) 2022 is 4.0%," PhilHealth said in an advisory dated May 11.

This means that this year, in accordance with the Universal Health Care Law (UHC), the premium rate would be a minimum of P400, or 4% of the income floor of P10,000.00, and a maximum of P3,200 for an income ceiling of P80,000.

PhilHealth's 2021 premium rate is a minimum of P300, or 3% of the income floor of P10,000, and a maximum of P1,800 for an income ceiling of P60,000.

The UHC states that PhilHealth premiums will increase by 0.5% every year, starting from 3% in 2020. Increased rates stop at 5%. The supposed 3.5% premium in January 2021 was deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Payments can be done monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.

The state insurer said members and employers who have already paid their contributions at 3% are advised to generate the corresponding Statement of Premium Account for the paid periods so they can settle the 1% differential payments/remittances until Dec. 31, 2022.

Employees and employers go 50-50 for their PhilHealth contribution, but employers with maids must shoulder the full amount in accordance with the Kasambahay Law.