Government Prepares IDR 20 Trillion For BPJS Health Arrears

Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Purbaya Yudhi Sadive revealed that the government plans to remove arrears in BPJS Kesehatan contributions with a value of up to IDR 20 trillion.

The statement was conveyed after a meeting with BPJS Kesehatan President Director Ali Ghufron Mukti, on Wednesday, October 22.

Purbaya explained that the issue of bleaching the arrears was discussed in the context of BPJS Kesehatan's budget preparation for 2026 and the initial report regarding this matter had been received and would be further explored by the technical team.

He said that the budget requirement to cover BPJS arrears was estimated at IDR 20 trillion.

"Earlier, I asked for a budget of Rp. 20 trillion according to the President's promise. It has been budgeted," he told the media crew, Wednesday, October 22.

Although he has not specified how many participants will benefit from the abolition, Purbaya said that he also provided a number of inputs to BPJS Kesehatan regarding the improvement of institutional governance.

He said one of his main concerns was the issue of inefficiency, such as the obligation to use ventilators in hospitals, even though the Covid-19 pandemic had passed and there were cases where patients were still asked to use ventilators just because the equipment was already available.

According to him, this kind of practice contributes to the swelling of claims for BPJS Health services.

"So I'll ask them which tools to buy, which tools don't have to be purchased," explained Purbaya.

Meanwhile, BPJS Kesehatan President Director Ali Ghufron Mukti said that the bleaching of this arrears was intended for independent BPJS participants who were later transferred to Contribution Assistance Recipients (PBI) participants.

"Yes, of course, we hope that it is right on target, so he has a desil which is said to be included in the DTSEN (National Sole Social Economic Data)," he said.

He also hopes that this policy can include independent 3rd grade participants, the group with the lowest dues, which still bears its own costs.

"Well, this has not actually been decided, but what is clear is that if BPJS wants the term state to be present, then the participants can access services, but they are not misused," he explained.