NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 335
.4 F-v'i iUr
of the F
‘22 JUL12 A10 35
RHCEiVcD BY
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
GRANTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES THE POWER TO SUSPEND 
THE SCHEDULED INCREASES IN PHILHEALTH PREMIUM CONTRIBUTION 
RATES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11223, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), created by virtue of 
Republic Act No. 7875, as amended, or the National Health Insurance Act, is mandated 
to administer the country's National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) by providing 
health insurance coverage and ensuring affordable, available, acceptable and 
accessible health care services to Filipinos.
The intent to carry out this goal was further strengthened when Republic Act 
No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act was signed into law. Under the UHC 
Act, all Filipino citizens are automatically enrolled in the NHIP. In order to fund this, 
Section 10 of the Act mandates an increase in membership premium by 0.5% yearly 
beginning 2021 until It reaches the 5% limit in 2025. Thus, PhilHealth issued Circular 
No. 2020-005 which provides the schedule of Increases In premium contribution to the 
NHIP pursuant to the UHC Act. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, President 
Rodrigo Duterte ordered PhilHealth to suspend the contribution hike scheduled in 
January 2021 thereby retaining the current collection at 3%.
The goals of the UHC Act and the NHIP are indeed desirable. However, the 
country is still recovering from the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, and people


are still adjusting to the new normal. Some have just got back to work or re-opened 
their business, and are still making ends meet, paying off debts, and struggles alike. 
An untimely increase will be an additional burden in this financially difficult time.
This measure acknowledges the rationale behind the increase in contribution 
rates as prescribed by the UHC law. However, It also recognizes the need to suspend 
the law in times of national emergency, public health crisis, or national calamity. Thus, 
this bill gives the President of the Philippines the power to suspend the scheduled 
increases during these eventualities. The increases will then commence accordingly 
with the lifting of the Presidential declaration. By giving the President the power to 
suspend the increases in times of need, we are also providing our countrymen a lifeline 
and support during a difficult time.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill Is earnestly 
recommended.
GRACE POE


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 335
*22 JUL 12 AlO 36
Rl-Cci'.uO 3'
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
GRANTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES THE POWER TO SUSPEND 
THE SCHEDULED INCREASES IN PHILHEALTH PREMIUM CONTRIBUTION 
RATES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11223, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT"
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Suspension of Phi!Health Premium Contribution Increase. - Section 
1 of Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the "Universal Health Care Act" is 
hereby amended to read, as follows:
"SECTION 10. Premium Contributions. - For direct contributors, premium rates 
shall be in accordance with the following schedule, and monthly income floor and 
ceiling:
Year
Premium Rate
Income Floor
Income Ceiling
2019
2.75%
P10,000.00
P50,000.00
2020
3.00%
fio,000.00
P60,000.00
2021
3.50%
fl0,000.00
P70,000.00
2022
4.00%
P10,000.00
P80,000.00
2023
4.50%
PIO,000.00
P90,000.00
2024
5.00%
PIO,000.00
flOO,000.00
2025
5.00%
fio,000.00
PlOO,000.00
Provided, That for indirect contributors, premium subsidy shall be gradually 
adjusted and included annually in the General Appropriations Act (GAA): Provided, 
further, That the funds shall be released to PhilHealth: Provided, furthermore, That
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the DOH, in coordination with PhilHeaith, may request Congress to appropriate
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supplemental funding to meet targeted milestones of this Act: Provided, finally,
3 
That for every increase in the rate of contribution of direct contributors and premium
4 
subsidy of indirect contributors, PhilHealth shall provide for a corresponding increase
5 
in benefits.
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IN THE EVENT OF A STATE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY OR PUBLIC
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HEALTH EMERGENCY, OR STATE OF NATIONAL CALAMITY, THE PRESIDENT
8 
OF THE PHILIPPINES, UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE PHILHEALTH
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BOARD AFTER CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS, MAY SUSPEND THE
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INCREASE IN PREMIUM CONTRIBUTION RATES PROVIDED UNDER THIS
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SECTION. THE MANDATED INCREASE SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED UPON THE
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LIFTING OF THE STATE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY, OR PUBLIC HEALTH
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EMERGENCY, OR STATE OF NATIONAL CALAMITY. ALL SUBSEQUENT
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SCHEDULED INCREASES IN CONTRIBUTION RATES SHALL BE
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IMPLEMENTED IN THE SUCCEEDING YEARS ACCORDINGLY."
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Sec. 2. Continuity of Benefits. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
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eliminate or diminish any benefits or entitlements already granted to members of
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PhilHealth.
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Sec. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other
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issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed
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or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision or section of this Act is held to
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be unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions or sections hereof, which are not
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
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its publication In the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the
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Philippines.
Approved,