AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Wednesday thanked the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for agreeing with his position on the need to increase the coverage it offers its members, but urged the agency to ensure that the 30% increase applies to all cases as the agency has conceded that inflation has impacted the costs of health care in the country.
Lee, who wrote PhilHealth in October recommending a 20 to 30% increase in all benefit packages and coverage provided by the corporation, said “I welcome the pronouncement of PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. that they would increase most of its benefit packages in 2024.”
“However, for me, most is not enough; dapat across the board ang 30% increase–ika nga, sanaol.”
The Bicolano lawmaker pointed out that he and Ledesma were in agreement that the case rates of PhilHealth are no longer realistic.
“Isipin mo magkakasakit ka sa 2024 pero ang tulong na ibibigay sa‘yo ng PhilHealth pang-2014 pa ang rate. Ang pamasahe ng jeep noong 2014 ay P7.50. Ngayon 13 pesos na. Ganun kalaki ang pagtaas ng mga presyo,” explained Lee.
Aside from writing PhilHealth, the legislator had earlier filed House Resolution No. 1407 strongly urging PhilHealth to update and increase its coverage since its case rate “is no longer responsive to the hospitalization cost of the beneficiaries.”
Following Lee’s actions Ledesma admitted in an article that “it is about time that PhilHealth adjusts its rates in order for our members to cope with the increasing cost of medical care.”
According to Lee, “buhay ang nakataya sa desisyon at aksyon ng PhilHealth; it is literally a matter of life and death.”
“Ang mga maykaya naba-bankrupt pag may health crisis, ang mahirap pa kaya? Di na dapat pinagdedebatehan ito. Those who have less in life should not lose their lives because they cannot pay for proper medical care,” lamented Lee.
“Hindi tama ito. Hindi ito makatarungan. Mayaman, mahirap, lahat may karapatan mabuhay. Winner Tayo Lahat pag sinigurado natin ang karapatan na ito.”
