By Billy Begas
House Committee on Appropriations Senior vice chairperson and Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo raised concern that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) may be overcharging the government.
During Monday’s budget briefing, Quimbo asked officials of PhilHealth how it arrived at the computation for the P100.2 billion it is asking the government for 2023.
PhilHealth said the government will be paying the premiums for 12.75 million indigent beneficiaries, 8.02 million senior citizens, and 99,800 individuals totaling around 20.87 million beneficiaries.
Quimbo then zeroed in on the 12.75 million indigent families, which PhilHealth said was based on the government’s National Household Targeting System (NHTS).
“But the last time I check based on the August 2022 NHTS there are only 5.59 indigent households, so pano po nangyari na 12.75 million ang sinisingil nyo sa government?” Quimbo asked.
Quimbo added, “Parang lumalabas kayo po ay nag-o-overcharge sa gobyerno kasi napakalaki po ng hinihingi ninyo P100.2 billion gusto ko lang malaman, I just want an assurance na you are not overcharging our government.”
PhilHealth Vice President Lemuel Untalan explained that according to the National Health Insurance Program, a dependent is defined as below 21. Children who are 21 and above will be paying a separate premium.
To clarify the matter, Quimbo made an example.
“Kasi po ako mayroong apat na anak ang isa dun 23-years-old so sa pamilya namin sinisingil nyo yung gobyerno ng dalawang premiums isa para sa nanay, sa tatay, tatlong anak na below 21, tapos may singil pa kayo ng another premium for the only child that happens to be more than 21 years old,” she said.
She continued, “So for my family kung ako ay nasama sa indigent you are charging the government two premiums for my family only because I happen to have a child who is more than 21 years old.”
“Why are you charging my family two premiums so kung nagkataon na meron akong isang anak na 21 at isa pang anak na 22, you are charging the government three premiums for my family. That doesn’t even sound right,” she added.
Quimbo said PhilHealth should make a simple and appropriate computation of how much premium the government should pay for an indigent family.
“Bakit hindi ninyo ayusin once and for all?… Para magkaintindihan tayo kung ano ang proper na singil kasi ako unang tingin pa lang dito you are overcharging government unfortunately kahit ako po ang sponsor ninyo I’ll be honest with you na hindi maliwanag ang computation ng singil ninyo sa national government,” Quimbo stressed.
Untalan promised to “look into” and “revisit our existing policy.”
