MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration will implement a general amnesty on penalties for unpaid contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for employers, business owners, and self-employed members.
In a video message, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that he has ordered PhilHealth to waive the three percent monthly compounded interest on unpaid premium contributions. The one-time waiver will apply to dues from July 2013 to December 2024, giving members one year to settle their missed payments.
The general amnesty is expected to benefit around 300,000 PhilHealth members. “We know that the three percent paid to PhilHealth every month is strongly felt by our countrymen,” Marcos said, noting the financial burden the penalty places on members.
Marcos also encouraged employers to update their employees’ records and ensure enrollment in the PhilHealth YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program), which provides free consultations, essential medicines, lab tests, and cancer screenings to support early detection and reduce health care expenses.
PhilHealth spokesperson Israel Francis Pargas reminded members to continue paying their premiums to maintain the sustainability of the benefits. “We hope that those who need to pay will continue to pay their premium. In that manner, we can ensure the sustainability of the benefits,” he said.
