Rising living expenses overseas and difficulty accessing mandatory benefits have intensified calls to revisit how overseas Filipino workers contribute to the national health insurance program, as a long-pending amendment to the Universal Health Care Act remains stuck in committee.
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre has urged lawmakers to move House Bill No. 2 forward, saying the proposal responds to persistent concerns raised by OFWs and labor groups about compulsory payments that are increasingly hard to sustain while working abroad.
Filed in July 2025 and still awaiting action from the House Committee on Health, the bill would change the current contribution scheme by removing the requirement for OFWs to directly shoulder Philippine Health Insurance Corp. premiums. Under the measure, the national government would assume half of the contribution, while employers would cover the remaining portion.
Supporters of the proposal argue that overseas workers are facing shrinking real incomes due to inflation, higher remittance charges, and tighter employment conditions in host countries. Economists have previously pointed out that rising costs for housing, food, and healthcare abroad are cutting into earnings, despite nominal wage gains.
Labor organizations have echoed these concerns, citing dissatisfaction with mandatory contributions that are difficult to use from overseas. Several OFW groups have also said the current setup discourages participation, particularly among workers on short-term contracts who see limited benefit from the payments.
In a statement, Acidre said the measure aims to correct what he described as an imbalance in how OFWs are treated under the health insurance system. “The proposed law of former Speaker Romualdez reflects the fact that OFWs contribute far more than their fair share to the economy—sending home remittances, paying taxes, and making sacrifices that keep families and businesses going. Requiring them to pay more for health coverage would be unfair, especially amid mounting global economic challenges,” he said.
“This is a corrective measure. Universal health care must be universal in protection, not universal in burden,” Acidre added, warning that prolonged inaction would forfeit a chance to provide relief to millions of Filipino workers overseas.
Deliberations on amendments to the Universal Health Care Act were earlier put on hold after objections from parts of the medical sector. Healthcare professionals from the Health Professionals Alliance Against Covid-19, the Philippine Medical Association, and allied labor groups have cautioned that reducing or reallocating premium contributions could undermine the long-term sustainability and financial stability of PhilHealth.
