The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is and has been implementing a series of annual increases in the contribution rates, which is expected to culminate in a 5% rate this year. This increment aligns with the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, which was signed into law in 2019. The structured increase aims to enhance the benefits and sustain the financial health of the government’s healthcare program, ensuring wider coverage and better services for all Filipinos.
Since 2019, the contribution rates have been gradually increasing from the initial 2.75%. In the subsequent years leading to this year, the rates have seen and continue to see annual increases of 0.5%, finally reaching the 5% mark. This increase reflects the government’s commitment to providing universal health coverage, with the contributions being divided between the employer and the employee.
The move is met with varied reactions from the public and stakeholders. While some acknowledge the necessity for enhanced healthcare funding, others express concern over the additional financial burden, especially amid economic uncertainties. PhilHealth assures that the increases are calculated to be manageable and are crucial for the agency’s sustainability and capability to provide comprehensive medical coverage.
As the 5% contribution rate comes into effect, it’s important for members to understand how this impacts their monthly contributions and to plan accordingly. The adjustment is an integral part of the government’s broader efforts to improve healthcare services and make them more accessible to every Filipino.
The table below shows some sample computations for the Philhealth Contribution amounts using the new rate of 5%:
| Monthly Salary | Employee Share | Employer Share | Remarks |
| P9, 000 | P250 | P250 | For monthly salaries below P10k, P10k is used as the basis for calculating the Philhealth contributions |
| P10, 000 | P250 | P250 | Employee and employer shares are calculated at 2.5% each |
| P20, 000 | P500 | P500 | Employee and employer shares are calculated at 2.5% each |
| P50, 000 | P1,250 | P1,250 | Employee and employer shares are calculated at 2.5% each |
| P100, 000 | P2,500 | P2,500 | Employee and employer shares are calculated at 2.5% each |
| P150, 000 | P2,500 | P2,500 | For monthly salaries above P100k, P100k is used as the basis for calculating the Philhealth contributions |