The Government Will Abolish The Arrears Of 23 Million BPJS Health Participants Starting At The End Of 2025

JAKARTA - The government will remove the arrears of BPJS Health participants, which amount to 23 million people. This program is prepared so that people do not lose access to health services due to delays in payment of contributions.

Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin) said this policy aims to expand BPJS Health's active participation and ensure that the poor are protected in the National Health Insurance (JKN) program.

"There are 23 million participants who are still in arrears in BPJS Kesehatan. In the near future, God willing, they will be whitened, removed," said Muhaimin at Sabilulangan Dome, Bandung Regency, Wednesday, November 5.

Muhaimin explained that participants who would receive benefits from this policy were those who were categorized as non-payers of wages (forformal workers). The government targets the arrears elimination program to start at the end of 2025.

"(The abolition of the dues) is carried out by means of all BPJS Kesehatan participants who are still in arrears to immediately re-register, re-registered as active BPJS participants," he said.

He added that this step is in line with the mandate of Article 28H paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution which states that every citizen has the right to receive health services.

In addition to eliminating arrears, the government will also strengthen the rules for compliance with BPJS Health in accordance with Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2022 concerning Optimizing the Implementation of the JKN Program.

"On the other hand, as a spirit of mutual cooperation, those who are able to pay dues must also be in solidarity with continuing to help the growth and development of BPJS Kesehatan. Those who have not been able to be assisted by contributions, who have been able to become part of our spirit of mutual cooperation," said Muhaimin.

Previously, Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadive revealed that the government had prepared a budget of around Rp. 20 trillion to cover BPJS Health arrears.

"It has been budgeted for IDR 20 trillion according to the President's promise. It has entered the budget," said Purbaya after a meeting with BPJS Health President Director Ali Ghufron Mukti, on Wednesday (22/10).

However, he emphasized that the funds should also be followed by improved governance and system at BPJS Kesehatan.

"The Rp20 trillion is there, we have budgeted it. But BPJS must also improve its management. There must be improvements there," he said.

According to Purbaya, the government does not want this large budget to be just a temporary solution. He emphasized the need for program efficiency and improvement of information technology systems (IT) so that BPJS Health services run more optimally.