The largest group of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has vehemently opposed the decision by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration to increase the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) members’ premium from 4% to 5%. This rise, announced last Friday, will impact individuals earning between P10,000 to P100,000 monthly.
Migrante International, representing the OFWs, criticized the premium hike as an undue financial burden. The increase means OFWs earning P10,000-P99,999.99 a month will now have deductions ranging from P500-P5,000. They emphasized that this comes at a time when OFWs already face stagnant wages, rising living costs, and increased rent, both abroad and for their families in the Philippines.
PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. defended the hike, stating it would fund “positive changes” in the healthcare system. However, the OFW group highlighted that they rarely benefit from PhilHealth services, as coverage is limited to the Philippines. With medical expenses abroad unaided by PhilHealth, they described the contributions as extortion and a sign of the government treating OFWs as mere revenue sources.
The move comes despite President Marcos Jr. previously suspending a premium hike from 4% to 4.5% in 2023 following widespread disapproval. Ledesma warned that another suspension would result in a P17 billion loss.
Migrante International also condemned the government’s stance on funding health and social services amid allegations of corruption and fund misappropriation within PhilHealth. In response to these issues and the new premium hike, the group is calling on Filipinos to protest against the increase and is advocating for the eventual abolition of PhilHealth.
