EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. B. No. 2000
c( li;i' iS>r .T't: • ;*
21 .JAN 20 Pl:48
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INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
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), being the national health 
insurance provider, is mandated to provide health insurance coverage and ensure 
affordable, acceptable, available and accessible health care services for all citizens of the 
Philippines. It shall serve as the means for those who are healthy to help pay for the care 
of those who are sick and for those who can afford medical care to subsidize those who 
cannot.
Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act was enacted to 
ensure that our health care system will be more accessible and responsive in the coming 
years. Under the UHC Act, all Filipino citizens are automatically enrolled In the NHIP. For 
the provision to materialize. Section 10 of the Act also mandates an increase in 
membership premium by 0.5% yearly beginning 2021 until it reaches the 5% limit in 
2025.


PhilHealth recently issued Circular No. 2020-005 which provides the schedule of 
increases in premium contribution to the NHIP pursuant to the UHC Act. This year, the 
premium rate will increase to 3.5% of the monthly basic salary of the direct contributor 
from just 3% in 2020.
Although the increase in PhilHealth membership contributions ensures sufficient 
funding for the health care of its members as mandated by the UHC Law, it is only 
reasonable and equitable to postpone incremental premiums due to the bad economic 
conditions caused by the pandemic. Even the President himself backed the call for the 
hike's deferment and was open to approving a budget augmentation to help keep the 
state insurer afloat. It is always the government's job to find ways to make it easy for 
the people.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPH^ LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
of tijt S'-a.-t.-ij-
SENATE
S. B. No. 2000
I
21 .JAN 20 PI :48
rk:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
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 assembied:
1 
Section 1. Suspension ofPhiiHeaith Premium Contribution Increase. - Section 10
2 
of Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as "Universal Health Care Act" is hereby
3 
amended to read, as follows:
4 
SECTION 10. Premium Contributions. - For direct contributors, premium rates
5 
shall be in accordance with the following schedule, and monthly income floor and
6 
ceiling:
Year
Premium Rate
Income Floor
Income Ceiling
2019
2.75%
PIO,000.00
P50.000.00
2020
3.00%
PIO.OOO.OO
P60,000.00
2021
3.50%
PIO,000.00
^70,000.00
2022
4.00%
P10,000.00
P80,000.00
2023
4.50 %
?10,000.00
P90,000.00


2024
5.00 %
^10,000.00
PlOO,000.00
2025
5.00%
P10,000.00
^100,000.00
2 
Provided, that for indirect contributors, premium subsidy shaii be graduaiiy
3 
adjusted and inciuded annuaiiy in the General Appropriations Act (GAA): Provided,
4 
further. That the funds shall be released to PhiiHealth: Provided, furthermore; That the
5 
DOH, in coordination with PhiiHealth, may request Congress to appropriate supplemental
6 
funding to meet targeted milestones of this Act: Provided, finally, that for every increase
7 
in the rate of contribution of direct contributors and premium subsidy of Indirect
8 
contributors, PhiiHealth shall provide for a corresponding Increase in benefits.
9 
IN THE EVENT OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY OR PUBLIC HEALTH
10 
EMERGENCY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, UPON
11 
RECOMMENDATION OF THE PHILHEALTH BOARD, MAY SUSPEND THE
12 
INCREASE IN PREMIUM CONTRIBUTION PROVIDED UNDER THIS SECTION
13 
WHEN PUBLIC INTEREST SO REQUIRES. THE MANDATED INCREASE SHALL BE
14 
IMPLEMENTED ON THE YEAR FOLLOWING THE CESSATION OF THE NATIONAL
15 
EMERGENCY OR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. ALL SUCCEEDING INCREASES
16 
IN CONTRIBUTION SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS
17 
ACCORDINGLY.
18 
Section. 2. Continuity of Benefits. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
19 
eliminate or diminish any benefits or entitlements granted to members of PhiiHealth.
20 
Section. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other
21 
issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or
22 
modified accordingly.
23 
Section. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision or section of this Act is held to
24 
be unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions or sections hereof, which are not
25 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.


1 
Section. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
2 
publication In the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation In the
3 
Philippines.
Approved,