Delay In Premium Payment Threatens Continuation Of BPJS Program

Pekanbaru, Riau, Aug 26 (Antara) - Delay in payments of premiums by individual and corporate holders of the national health insurance (JKN) program could threaten the continuation of the Social Security Regulator (BPJS), a local BPJS executive said. The threat could be serious as many individuals as well as corporate holders of BPJS, which began in January 2014, had delayed payments of premiums for one to four months, Mairiyanto, head of the Pekanbaru branch of BPJS, said here on Monday. Mairijanto said BPJS is a product of mutual support program, with finance relied mainly on the premiums paid by the participants. He said some participant such as those being pregnant regularly paid the premiums until they delivered their babies, but after that they stopped paying. The JKN program relies on mutual support that medical cost of an individuals is jointly financed by all members, he said. The program is aimed to arrange cross subsidy between the healthy and sick people, young and old and rich and poor, he added. He said currently more than 50 percent of individual holders and quite many corporate members of BPJS put off payment of the premiums. He said delay in payment of the premiums would be charged with a fine of 2 percent per month. In Pekanbaru, holders of BPJS card totaled 447,887 by August 2014 including non salaried or individuals and salaried participant. Non salaried participants made up 89,730 with salaried participants and family members accounting for the rest. Salaried participant included civil servants, police officers, and servicemen and family members with premium payments arranged by the company or institutions for which they work.