BPJS Health Contribution Up, Observer: The Government Should Be More Creative In Finding Solutions

JAKARTA - Economist and Research Director of CORE Indonesia, Piter Abdullah, assessed that the government's decision to increase the National Health Insurance Program (BPJS) class III premiums is not correct. This is because, during this time of health emergencies due to COVID-19, people's income is under intense pressure.

Furthermore, Piter said, it is undeniable that the increase in BPJS Health contributions is needed to fill the company's deficit. However, the timing was not right.

"This increase is needed to cover the deficit experienced by BPJS Kesehatan. But at this time I think it is not right because in the midst of a pandemic which has a very significant impact on the income of the community, especially the lower class people," he said, when contacted, Saturday, January 2.

According to Piter, the government must be more creative in finding solutions to cover the deficit experienced by BPJS Kesehatan. Given that there are still a number of alternative policies that the government can take to make BPJS Kesehatan healthy again.

"Other efforts that can be closed by the government, such as increasing public discipline in paying dues to improving the efficiency of health services by hospitals," he said.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto revealed that the reason for the government to increase BPJS Health Class III dues in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic was to maintain the operational sustainability of BPJS Kesehatan.

"In accordance with what has been published, and of course this is to maintain the sustainability of BPJS Kesehatan," said Airlangga in a video conference after a limited meeting with President Jokowi, Wednesday, May 13, 2020.

This rule is contained in Presidential Regulation (Perpres) number 64 of 2020 concerning the Second Amendment to Presidential Regulation Number 82 of 2018 concerning Health Insurance issued by President Jokowi in the middle of last year.

As for the amount of the JKN-KIS independent participant fee that is effective on January 1, 2021, namely:

a. The BPJS Kesehatan class I membership fee is IDR 150,000 per person per month with service benefits in the Class I treatment room.

b. BPJS class II participant contribution is Rp. 100,000 per person per month with service benefits in Class II treatment rooms.

c. The BPJS Kesehatan class III participant contribution is IDR 42,000 per person per month with service benefits in Class III treatment rooms.

The government continues to provide assistance or contribution subsidies of Rp. 7,000, so class III BPJS Health participants only pay Rp. 35,000 starting January 1, 2021.

Head of Public Relations of BPJS Kesehatan M. Iqbal Anas Ma'ruf some time ago said that there was actually no increase in BPJS Kesehatan class III dues, which amounted to Rp42,000.

Iqbal said the difference was the amount of subsidies from the government. In 2020, participants will only pay IDR 25,500, the remaining IDR 16,500 will be paid by the government.

However, in 2021, participants will have to pay IDR 35,000, while the government will pay IDR 7,000. This means that in 2021, there will be an additional Rp9,500 increase every month for class III BPJS Kesehatan participants.