EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1966
FILED
TIME
NDEX
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT TO SUSPEND THE INCREASE IN PREMIUM RATE CONTRIBUTIONS 
OF THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION (PHILHEALTH) 
FOR THE YEAR 2021, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Art. XII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution provides that, "The State shall 
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall 
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all 
the people at affordable cost."
The Universal Health Care Act (R.A. No. 11223) was enacted in 20 February 
2019 specifically to ensure the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to 
health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among them by adopting an 
integrated and comprehensive approach and health care model for a comprehensive 
set of quality and cost-effective, promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and 
palliative health services without causing financial hardship to Filipinos.
Section 10 of the said Act provides for a scheduled increase in premium 
contributions, on a per year basis. However, due to the current situation, in the 
wake of a pandemic, it is but appropriate to suspend such increase of premium 
contributions because it will only impose an additional burden to contributors during 
this period of overwhelming economic and financial difficulty.
Thus, in order to address the abovementioned circumstances, this bill seeks 
to suspend the increase in premium rate contributions of the Philippine Health 
Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for the year 2021, as provided in Sec. 10 of 
Republic Act No. 11223 otherwise known as the " Universal Health Care Act. "
fy>(CU-<Sety//^
IMEE R. MARCOS


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1966
ui date; 
co
time:
E-FILED 
Jan 04 2021
2:10 p.m.
INDEX
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT TO SUSPEND THE INCREASE IN PREMIUM RATE CONTRIBUTIONS 
OF THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION (PHILHEALTH) 
FOR THE YEAR 2021, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Suspension of the
2 
Increase in the PhHHeaith Rate Contribution Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Suspension in the Increase of Premium Contributions. - The
4 
scheduled increase in the payment of premium contributions of 3.50%, as provided
5 
in Sec. 10 of Republic Act No. 11223 otherwise known as the " Universal Health Care
6 
Act^ "shall be suspended in the year of 2021.
7 
The schedule of increase in premium contributions shall resume in 2022 with
8 
the supposed suspended 3.50% increase for 2021, as provided in R.A. No. 11223.
9 
Sec. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
10 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
11 
hereby repealed or modified accordingiy.
12 
Sec. 4. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
13 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shali
14 
remain in force and effect.
15 
Sec. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
16 
the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
17 
general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,