JAKARTA - The government needs to review the planned premium increases for independent participants Class I and Class II of the Social Security Administration Agency for Health (BPJS Kesehatan), said People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Bambang Soesatyo.
"We ask that the government review the plan, considering the Supreme Court's ruling that principally forbids the government from raising BPJS Kesehatan premiums," said Mr Soesatyo in an official statement, Thursday (14/5).
The government, according to the Functional Groups (Golkar) Party politician, must provide socialisation and explanation to the public immediately because the plan contradicts the Supreme Court's ruling. In March, the Supreme Court issued Supreme Court's Ruling No. 7/P/HUM/2020 which cancelled BPJS Kesehatan premium increases, which at the time had been in effect since January.
However, on May 5 President Joko Widodo signed Presidential Regulation No. 64/2020 on the Second Revision of Presidential Regulation No. 82/2018 on Health Insurance, which was promulgated by Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly the next day.
Based on the regulation, the Class I premium of BPJS Kesehatan for independent participants will increase from Rp 80,000 to Rp 150,000, while the Class II premium will increase from Rp 51,000 to Rp 100,000 and the Class III premium will increase from Rp 25,500 to Rp 35,000.
"The increase of BPJS Kesehatan premiums will only make it difficult for the public to pay their premiums, which in turn will limit their access to healthcare," said Mr Soesatyo. (MS)