Published — June 10, 2022
The following post does not create a lawyer-client relationship between Alburo Alburo and Associates Law Offices (or any of its lawyers) and the reader. It is still best for you to engage the services of your own lawyer to address your legal concerns, if any.
Also, the matters contained in the following were written in accordance with the law, rules, and jurisprudence prevailing at the time of writing and posting, and do not include any future developments on the subject matter under discussion.
After reading “What is the New Premium Rate of PhilHealth Contributions for 2022?”, read also “Imprisonment for non-remittance of SSS, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth contributions”
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For the year 2022, the premium rate of contribution shall be 4.00% for direct contributors with an income floor of P10,000.00 and income ceiling of P80,000.00.
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The increase in the premium rates becomes effective starting January 2022.
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The Universal Health Care Act aims to ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services, and protected against financial risk.
Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act, aims to ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services, and protected against financial risk. (Section 3, Universal Health Care Act)
The law says:
Section 10 of the Universal Health Care Act provides for a schedule of premium rates as well as monthly income floor or ceiling. To wit:
“Sec. 10. Premium Contributions. – For direct contributors, premium rates shall be in accordance with the following schedule, and the monthly income floor and ceiling:
|
Year |
Premium Rate |
Income Floor |
Income Ceiling |
|
2019 |
2.75 % |
P10,000.00 |
P50,000.00 |
|
2020 |
3.00 % |
P10,000.00 |
P60,000.00 |
|
2021 |
3.50 % |
P10,000.00 |
P70,000.00 |
|
2022 |
4.00 % |
P10,000.00 |
P80,000.00 |
|
2023 |
4.50 % |
P10,000.00 |
P90,000.00 |
|
2024 |
5.00 % |
P10,000.00 |
P100,000.00 |
|
2025 |
5.00 % |
P10,000.00 |
P100,000.00 |
Provided, That for indirect contributors, premium subsidy shall be gradually adjusted and included annually in the General Appropriations Act (GAA): Provided, further, That the funds shall be released to PhilHealth: Provided, furthermore; That the DOH, in coordination with PhilHealth, may request Congress to appropriate supplemental funding to meet targeted milestones of this Act: Provided, finally, That for every increase in the rate of contribution of direct contributors and premium subsidy of indirect contributors, PhilHealth shall provide for a corresponding increase in benefits.”
As provided for in Section 10 of the Universal Health Care Act, and in accordance with PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-0005 with regard to the premium contribution schedule in the National Health Insurance Program, all Direct Contributors are hereby advised that the premium rate for CY 2022 is 4.0%, with an income floor of P10,000.00 and income ceiling of P80,000.00 effective January 2022.
Thus, the Premium Contribution Schedule for the year 2022 is as follows:
|
Year |
Monthly Basic Salary |
Premium Rate |
Monthly Premium |
|
2022 |
P10,000.00 and below |
4.00 % |
P400.00 |
|
P10,000.01 to P79,999.99 |
P400.00 to P3,200.00 |
||
|
P80,000.00 and above |
P3,200.00 |
The adjusted premium rate shall take effect in the Electronic Premium Remittance System (EPRS) and the PhilHealth Member Portal starting the applicable month of June 2022. 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 December 31, 2022. (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Advisory No. 2022-0010)
Who are direct and indirect contributors under the Universal Health Care Act?
Direct contributors refer to those who have the capacity to pay premiums, are gainfully employed and are bound by an employer-employee relationship, or are self-earning, professional practitioners, migrant workers, including their qualified dependents, and lifetime members. [Section 4 (f), Universal Health Care Act]
Indirect contributors refer to all others not included as direct contributors, as wll as their qualified dependents, whose premium shall be subsidized by the national government including those who are subsidized as a result of special laws. [Section 4 (o), Universal Health Care Act]
Are employees of PhilHealth considered as health care workers?
Health workers or employees are not similarly situated with the PhilHealth employees. Health workers have sets of skills, training, medical background, work quality and ethical considerations to patients, and risks in transmission, occupational and hazard exposures, diseases etc., in the performance of their functions, while in PhilHealth, as National Health Insurance Program provider, its policy is only to help the people subsidize; or pay, or finance for the health care services. (PhilHealth Insurance Corporation v. Commission on Audit, G.R. No. 222710, July 24, 2018)
Alburo Alburo and Associates Law Offices specializes in business law and labor law consulting. For inquiries, you may reach us at info@alburolaw.com, or dial us at (02)7745-4391/0917-5772207.
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