THE PHILIPPINE Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) XI reminded employers to register and pay their share in the employee’s monthly premium contributions to avoid legal trouble.
Philhealth XI public relations officer Kleah Gayle Guevara said erring business owners may pay hefty fines or imprisonment.
“Kung naay late payment, naa gyud tay ginapatuman na penalty charge sa mga employers, this will be computed based on their remittance,” she said.
“After they remit, they need to report it to Philhealth as well, part yan ng obligation nila,” Guevara added.
Republic Act 11223 or the “Universal Health Care Act” signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019 specifically fines employers who fail and refuse to register employees, deduct contributions from employee’s compensation and accurately remit and report to Philhealth will be fined P50,000 for every violation per affected employee or six months imprisonment but not more than one year.
Employers who deduct directly or indirectly from the compensation of the covered employer’s own contribution on behalf of employees shall be fined P5,000 multiplied by the total number of employees and imprisonment of six months but not more than one year.
Guevara stressed all go to due process wherein these employers will be given prior notice and enough time to comply with delinquencies.
Philhealth XI intensified their monitoring by assigning accounts information management specialists to assess employees’ compliance with guidelines and regulations.
They also conduct employer visits and mapping activities to identify offenders and hold them liable.
The official urged the employers to attend the employer’s forum and bookkeepers’ forum to be aware of their obligations, now that the office will start enforcing the increase in members’ premium contribution from the previous 4% to its new rate of 5% this year.
Employed members’ monthly premium remittances are being shared 50-50 by the employer and that of the employee.
