16.5 million more Pinoys to get free health insurance

MANILA, Philippines — An additional 16.5 million Filipinos are targeted to benefit from the Congress-approved Universal Health Care (UHC) bill, the principal author of the measure in the House of Representatives said yesterday.

“That is the number that will be added to those who are enjoying free health insurance, if the government is able to raise enough funds for the UHC program,” said Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, who also chairs the committee on health.

At present, the health insurance program covers 85 percent of the nation’s estimated 110 million population.

 “With sufficient funding, the expanded program aims to extend free health care services to the remaining 15 percent, or about 16.5 million Filipinos,” Tan added.

She pointed out that the program would be “the biggest Christmas and New Year’s gift of Congress and the Duterte administration to our people.”

The targeted beneficiaries, she added, would have to register with their barangay health centers to enroll for free health insurance coverage.

“It is the national government that will shoulder the premium to be paid to PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.) for their health benefits,” Tan also said.

The expanded benefits include preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care for medical, dental, mental and emergency health services.

“In light of the massive resources required to push the UHC agenda, the program will rely heavily on public funding. Thus, annual allocations from the national government are critical for the program’s successful implementation,” Tan noted, pointing out that it is for this reason that her Senate counterparts – Sens. Joseph Victor Ejercito and Manny Pacquiao – have filed separate bills that seek to increase taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

The UHC, she said, would require about P270 billion a year, while the current available funding amounts to only P100 billion, which would result in a deficit of P170 billion.

“We have to generate a large part of the deficiency from increased sin taxes,” she added.

Tan and Pacquiao have proposed to increase cigarette levies from P32.50 to P60 per pack, while Ejercito wants taxes adjusted to P90.

Last Tuesday, while Tan, Ejercito and members of the House-Senate conference committee were finalizing the UHC bill, the House committee on ways and means, chaired by Rep. Estrellita Suansing of Nueva Ecija, approved a small adjustment of P2.50 in tobacco taxes.

Tan said she was “deeply saddened” by the decision of the Suansing panel.

 “It will compromise the needed financing for the universal health care program and the goal of providing all Filipinos with health benefits,” she said. 

Tan hopes that Pacquiao and Ejercito would fight for more funds for the program.