Civil society hits PhilHealth's 'do nothing' budget

Civil society groups referred to the 2025 Corporate Operating Budget (COB) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) as a "do nothing" budget.

- Jose Rodel Clapano, Marc Jayson Cayabyab

According to the Medical Action Group (MAG) and Action for Economic Reforms, it's a "do nothing" budget because it shows an increase of only 10 percent when its expenditure for 2024 was already higher by 22 percent over the previous year, with two months yet to go (P122 billion in 2023 vs. P155 billion as of October 2024).

The groups said the new packages approved in the last six months are likely to increase reimbursements in 2025 to over P200 billion.

MAG co-chairman Juan Antonio Perez III explained that direct contributors - many of whom are from the working class, overseas Filipino workers and informal workers - are expected to cover P202 billion of the PhilHealth budget, which will cover their own reimbursements as well as the reimbursements of indirect contributors: the indigents, older persons and persons with disabilities.

"Reimbursements by indirect contributors have exceeded those of the direct members in 2024, with seniors getting 30 percent of all reimbursements. This trend will likely continue in 2025," Perez said.