BPJS Kesehatan Faces Potential Rp2 Trillion Deficit, Government Confirms No Premium Hike

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has confirmed there are no plans to raise BPJS Kesehatan premium rates despite a potential deficit of up to Rp2 trillion per month. “Regarding the tariff increase, I answer firmly, there is none,” Budi said in Jakarta on Thursday (11/6). Budi stated that he and the Minister of State Secretariat have been discussing several draft government regulations and presidential regulations that need to be issued immediately. There is a proposed presidential regulation from the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment to clear BPJS Kesehatan arrears. Additionally, there is a draft presidential regulation related to an injection of Rp20 trillion into BPJS Kesehatan. “However, in the health sector, because we have an interest, we ask for help from Mr Mensesneg so that the Rp20 trillion in funds that the government has prepared can now be injected into BPJS Kesehatan,” he said. He wants the Rp20 trillion injection to enter BPJS immediately because it will help the agency be more flexible in making payments to hospitals. Another plan is a regulation concerning the implementation of a new INA-CBG tariff system and a new National Health Insurance (JKN) framework so that BPJS Kesehatan’s expenditure can be more targeted and aligned with community needs. “I continue to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment, and also the Minister of State Secretariat so that this can be issued soon. Yes, so that payments can be made quickly,” he concluded.