A Facebook post is claiming that members of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) with missed contributions will incur penalties and interest due to the latest general amnesty ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This is false.
Published on Jan. 10, the video bears the caption:
“BBM PINATUPAD ANG GENERAL AMNESTY FOR UNPAID PHILHEALTH CONTRIBUTION? IBIG SABIHIN PAG HINDI KA MAKAHULOG SA PHILHEALTH MO MAGKAKAPINALTY KA? AT KAYLAN PA NAGING COMPULSORY ANG MAGBAYAD NG PHILHEALTH.”
“Hala kaylan pa nangyari ito? Pagdika maka bayad sa philhealth maypinalty na pala at compulsory napala ang mag hulog sa philhealth? garabi naman to pag dikamakahulog may pinalty?”
(BBM issued a general amnesty order for unpaid PhilHealth contributions? Does this mean that when you can’t pay your PhilHealth contribution, you’ll receive a penalty? And since when did paying PhilHealth become compulsory.
When did this happen? If you can’t settle your PhilHealth contribution, there’s a penalty, and it’s compulsory to pay PhilHealth now? This is alarming, if you can’t pay, there’s a penalty.)
On Jan. 8, Marcos ordered PhilHealth to extend general amnesty to business owners, employers, and self-employed individuals with overdue contributions.
This would allow PhilHealth members to settle their missed payments without incurring penalties or interest from Jan. 24 to Dec. 31, 2026.
Marcos said in a video uploaded on his Facebook page that members may use the one-time waiver to catch up on their unpaid contributions between 2013 to 2024.
The clickbait video with the false and misleading text and captions used a news report from CLTV36 News, produced by a Pampanga-based station. It was uploaded on Jan. 10.
Under the Universal Health Care Act (RA 11223), PhilHealth contributions are mandatory given that all Filipinos are automatic members of the National Health Insurance Program. Under the scheme, those with capacity to pay – particularly employees – are required to contribute monthly to the fund, with a share from employers. The government and other sponsors provide coverage for senior citizens, lifetime members, and indigents who cannot afford to contribute.
There are also voluntary members who are self-employed individuals like freelancers or even the unemployed who shoulder the entire cost and pay premiums directly to PhilHealth.
All PhilHealth members are eligible for medical benefits, particularly during confinement, including hospital stay, physicians’ fees, treatment for long-term illnesses, and certain outpatient benefits. However, voluntary members are not entitled to benefits until they complete contributions of at least nine months prior to a confinement or use of PhilHealth for outpatient services.
Late payments follow PhilHealth Circular 2016-0034, where the principal amount is multiplied by 2% or P200, whichever is higher, as penalty. The amount increases based on the total number of months contributions are not remitted.
The post by Facebook page Pilipinas Ngayon (created on April 1, 2025) has so far garnered 2,500 views, 69 reactions, 56 comments, and 45 shares.
