Government Plans to Make BPJS Kesehatan Mandatory for Passport Applications

The government plans to make BPJS Kesehatan membership a mandatory requirement for a number of public services, starting from passport applications to driving licences (SIM).

BPJS Kesehatan Director of Membership Akmal Budi Yulianto stated that the policy aims to increase the active participation of JKN members, particularly among citizens who are actually able to pay premiums but choose to remain inactive.

"For passport applicants, these are people considered to have the financial means, those who have the ability but do not want to pay. With a cooperation method like this, they will have no choice but to pay," Akmal said.

According to Akmal, this proposal is not impossible to implement, considering that active BPJS Kesehatan membership is already a requirement for processing Police Record Certificates (SKCK). In the future, he will also push for BPJS Kesehatan to become a mandatory requirement for land administration services.

He stressed that this step is not solely to increase the number of participants, but rather to maintain the sustainability of the JKN programme, which upholds the principle of mutual cooperation.

"BPJS carries a fairly high cost burden. So, let us invite those who are capable to contribute premiums so they can help other community groups who are struggling. The principle is mutual cooperation," he concluded.