The Indonesian government should calculate the risks of increasing the National Health Insurance Program (JKN) premium in the midst of dismal economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy Head of the Indonesian Medical Association (PB IDI) Executive Board Slamet Budiarto further opined that many contributors were unable to afford the monthly JKN premium even before it was raised.
The increase will affect third-class-service payers most severely, he added.
“How about those who have been laid off–hundreds of thousands of them–or have filed for bankruptcy?
“During this pandemic, the economy is destroyed. Some member of the third-class service cannot even afford to pay for the third class [premium],” Mr Budiarto told Detik on Friday (15 May).
The Supreme Court in its ruling cited mismanagement by BPJS Kesehatan as a key factor in the deficit of the insurance scheme’s funds.
The Dialysis Patient Community (KPCDI), as the plaintiff in the case to dismiss previous regulation, regrets the decision taken by the government to reinstate the increase of JKN premium in the new regulation.
“KPCDI sees this action as the government’s effort to outsmart the Supreme Court’s decision,” Secretary-General of KPCDI Petrus Hariyanto told Detik on Wednesday.
He added that KPCDI will apply for a judicial review to the apex court on the new regulation.
Govt move to increase national health insurance scheme premium again akin to rubbing salt in wounds of financially-struggling contributors
Politicians have also criticised the move, saying that raising the health insurance premium during the COVID-19 pandemic is like rubbing salt into the wounds of many contributors who are currently struggling financially.
Increasing the premium has robbed the people of the joy after the country’s apex court revoked the premium raise last March, said a member of Committee III of the Regional Representative Council.
“If the state’s finance is no longer able [to support JKN program], how about its people who are now surrounded by massive layoffs [everywhere]?” questioned Evi Zainal Abidin in a written statement on Thursday.
She also urged the government to reconsider its decision to raise the premium during this pandemic.
A member of House Commission IX from the Unity Development Party) similarly criticised the government for its apparent insensitivity in raising the premium during a precarious period.
“The enthusiasm and excitement of the public felt after the Supreme Court decided to revoke the premium increase will disappear now, especially when retrenchment rates are increasing and unemployment is skyrocketing due to the large-scale social restrictions policy imposed in various regions in Indonesia,” said Mr Thahir.
Member of House Commission IX of the People’s Representative Council Obon Tabroni also has the same opinion that it will only be a burden to the public.
“Now we are in [an economic] crisis. Many people have lost their source of income. [Yet] how could the government increase the BPJS Kesehatan [JKN program] premium?” said Mr Tabroni in a statement on Wednesday.
“Health is the citizens’ rights. It should [facilitate] the community’s access to health insurance. And not to complicate it by raising the premium like this. The community is already dealing with difficulties,” he continued.
A 26-year-old resident from Cianjur in West Java province shared his delight with Detik when he heard the news about the Supreme Court’s decision to reject the premium increase.
Unfortunately, Chandra Noviandi W’s excitement was shattered when he found out that a new regulation has been issued to increase the premium again.
“I am extremely disappointed. I thought [the government] wanted to lighten its citizens’ burden, but it looks wishy-washy.
“[It was] increased, then decreased, but now [it is] increased again,” said Mr Chandra, who works as a mechanic with uncertain income since large-scale of social restrictions were imposed in West Java.
Middle-class contributors also struggling with paying the premium, affected by layoffs or restrictions on business operations
Third-class-service contributors are not the only ones who will be adversely impacted by the increase, said Director of Research of Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia Piter Abdullah.
He opined that it is incorrect to assume that persons contributing to the first-class and second-class services do not experience a decrease in purchasing power.
“Some [people] of the middle-class are also affected by layoffs or are unable to open their businesses, thereby their income is decreasing.
“The increase in BPJS [JKN] premium will add a burden for them, meaning [that] there will be a further decrease in purchasing power,” Abdullah told Detik on Wednesday.
“The government assumes that the middle-class society does not experience a decrease in purchasing power … I don’t think the government policy is right,” he said.
Separately, Acting Deputy II of the Presidential Office Staff Abetnego Tarigan said regarding reports on unsatisfactory service levels at BPJS Kesehatan facilities that BPJS Kesehatan will improve its service level as the premium is raised.
“In the past, for example, [there were problems] with the information system for the availability of hospital beds. Now the system is accessible online. [There will be] no more patient who will be rejected,” he said yesterday.
Mr Tarigan understands while economic conditions are difficult at this moment, he stressed that the government is also undergoing a challenging time in managing its resources now as state revenue has dropped significantly.
