REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 1329 
Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III, 
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and 
 HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to amend Sections 4, 9, and 10 of Republic Act No. 11223, 
otherwise known as the “Universal Health Care Act” to exempt Overseas Filipino 
Workers (OFWs) from the mandatory payment of premium contributions to the 
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). It shall also require that 
they only be registered as indirect contributors where payment of premium shall 
be subsidized by the government. 
Our OFWs are hailed as modern-day heroes as they sacrifice their personal 
comfort and safety to secure a better future for their families. According to the 
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there are about 2.16 million OFWs 
deployed globally. 1  They contributed remittances amounting to 8.5% to the 
country’s gross domestic product (GDP) which translated to US$33.5 billion — 
2.9% higher than thenUS$32.5 billion remitted in 2022.2 
1  PSA. Survey on Overseas Filipinos. Data retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-and-
employment/survey-overseas-filipinos. Dated 13 September 2024 
2  Daily Tribune. OFWs: Modern-day heroes shaping Phl economy. Information retrieved from 
https://tribune.net.ph/2024/07/21/ofws-modern-day-heroes-shaping-phl-economy. Dated 22 July 2024 
July 7, 2025
8:10 am


Although hailed as heroes, they face a challenge that our own government 
has mandatory imposed on them. 
Under the enactment of Republic Act No. 11223, all OFWs were included 
as direct contributors in funding the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) 
wherein they are mandated to fully pay the premium contributions at specific 
rates. With the regional conflicts in some parts of the world contributing to higher 
inflation rate, many OFWs often face stagnant wages and increasing costs of 
living, further exacerbated by the burden of mandatory contributions imposed by 
the PhilHealth. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
     RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III 
LANI MERCADO-REVILLA 
BRYAN B. REVILLA 


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. 1329 
Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III, 
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and 
 HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA 
AN ACT EXEMPTING MIGRANT WORKERS FROM THE PAYMENT 
OF PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH 
INSURANCE CORPORATION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
SECTIONS 4, 9, AND 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11223, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE “UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT,” AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as 
1 
the “Universal Health Care Act” is hereby amended to read as follows: 
2 
3 
“Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act: 
4 
5 
x x x 
6 
7 
(f)
Direct contributors refer to those who have the capacity to pay
8 
premiums, are gainfully employed and are bound by an employer-
9 
employee relationship, or self-earning, professional practitioners,
10 


[migrant workers including their qualified dependents,] lifetime 
1 
members. 
2 
 
3 
 
PROVIDED, THAT MIGRANT WORKERS OR OVERSEAS 
4 
FILIPINO WORKERS SHALL BE REGISTERED AS 
5 
INDIRECT 
CONTRIBUTORS 
UNDER 
PARAGRAPH 
6 
HEREOF. 
7 
 
8 
x x x 
9 
 
10 
 
(V) MIGRANT WORKER REFERS TO LAND-BASED 
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OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWS); SEAFARERS 
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AND OTHER SEA-BASED WORKERS; FILIPINOS WITH 
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DUAL CITIZENSHIP IN ACCORDANCE WITH REPUBLIC 
14 
ACT 9225, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “CITIZENSHIP 
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RETENTION AND REACQUISITION ACT OF 2003”; 
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FILIPINOS LIVING ABROAD; OVERSEAS FILIPINOS IN 
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DISTRESSED; AND OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS NOT 
18 
PREVIOUSLY CLASSIFIED ELSEWHERE.” 
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20 
SEC. 2. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 11223 is hereby amended to read as 
21 
follows: 
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“Sec. 9. Entitlement to Benefits. — Every member shall be granted 
24 
immediate eligibility for health benefit package under the Program. Provided, 
25 
That failed PhilHealth Identification Card shall not be required in the availment 
26 
of any health service. Provided further, That no co-payment shall be charged for 
27 
services rendered in basic or reward accommodation. Provided furthermore, That 
28 
co-payments and co-insurance for amenities in public hospitals shall be regulated 
29 


regulated by the DOH and PhilHealth. Provided finally, That the current 
1 
PhilHealth package for members shall not be reduced. 
2 
 
3 
PhilHealth shall provide additional Program benefits for their direct 
4 
contributors, where applicable. Provided, That failure to pay premiums shall not 
5 
prevent the enjoyment of any Program benefit. Provided further, That employers 
6 
and self-employed direct contributors shall be required to pay all missed 
7 
contributions with an interest, compounded monthly, of at least three per centum 
8 
(3%) for employers and not exceeding one and one-half percent (1.5%) for self-
9 
earning, AND professional practitioners[, and migrant workers]. 
10 
 
11 
 
SEC. 3. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 11223 is hereby amended to read 
12 
as follows: 
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14 
 
“Sec. 10. Premium Contributions. — For direct contributors, premium 
15 
rates shall be in accordance with the following schedule, and monthly income 
16 
floor and ceiling: 
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18 
Year 
Premium Rate 
Income Floor 
Income Ceiling 
2019 
2.75% 
P10,000.00 
P50,000.00 
2020 
3.00% 
P10,000.00 
P60,000.00 
2021 
[3.50%] 3.25% 
P10,000.00 
P70,000.00 
2022 
[4.00%] 3.50% 
P10,000.00 
P80,000.00 
2023 
[4.50%] 3.75% 
P10,000.00 
P90,000.00 
2024 
[5.00%] 4.00% 
P10,000.00 
P100,000.00 
2025 
[5.00%] 4.25% 
P10,000.00 
P100,000.00 
 
19 
 
Provided, That for direct contributors, premium subsidies shall be 
20 
gradually adjusted and included annually in the General Appropriations Act 
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(GAA). Provided further, That the funds shall be released to PhilHealth. Provided 
1 
furthermore, That the DOH, in coordination with PhilHealth, may request 
2 
Congress to appropriate supplemental funding to meet targeted milestones of this 
3 
Act. Provided finally, That for every increase in the rate of contribution of direct 
4 
contributors and premium subsidy of their indirect contributors, field health shall 
5 
provide for a corresponding increase in benefits. 
6 
 
7 
 
IN THE EVENT OF A STATE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY OR 
8 
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, OR STATE OF NATIONAL 
9 
CALAMITY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, UPON 
10 
RECOMMENDATION OF THE PHILHEALTH BOARD AFTER 
11 
CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS, MAY SUSPEND THE 
12 
INCREASE IN PREMIUM CONTRIBUTION RATES PROVIDED 
13 
UNDER THIS SECTION. THE MANDATED INCREASE SHALL BE 
14 
IMPLEMENTED UPON THE LIFTING OF THE STATE OF NATIONAL 
15 
EMERGENCY, OR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, OR STATE OF 
16 
NATIONAL 
CALAMITY. 
ALL 
SUBSEQUENT 
SCHEDULED 
17 
INCREASES IN CONTRIBUTION RATES SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED 
18 
IN THE SUCCEEDING YEARS ACCORDINGLY.” 
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SEC. 4. Continuity of Benefits. — Nothing in this Act shall be constured 
21 
to eliminate or diminish any benefits or entitlements already granted to members 
22 
of PhilHealth. 
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SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared 
25 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in 
26 
full force and effect. 
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SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
1 
memorandum, and other administrative issuance or parts thereof which are 
2 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified, superseded, or 
3 
repealed accordingly. 
4 
 
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SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take fifteen (15) days afterw 
6 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper or general circulation. 
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Approved,