Beratnya Mencicil Tunggakan BPJS Kesehatan

Summary

Slamet and his family are struggling with overdue BPJS payments, which have been accumulating for over two years. After losing his job at a government institution, Slamet couldn’t afford to pay the premiums for himself, his wife, and their child. With limited income from selling vegetables and his wife working as a housekeeper, they face a difficult situation. Although BPJS offers installment plans and government aid options, overdue payments remain a challenge. The situation highlights the financial burden on low-income families, exacerbated by the pandemic and job loss, despite efforts to provide assistance through BPJS programs.

Takeaways

• 😀 Slamet and his family are struggling with overdue BPJS payments, having not paid for over two years. This issue is compounded by his job loss and financial hardship.
• 😀 Slamet's lack of attention to his BPJS membership after losing his government job two years ago led to significant arrears for him, his wife, and child.
• 😀 Slamet and his wife are both working low-income jobs (selling vegetables and cleaning) and find it difficult to pay off the accumulated BPJS debt.
• 😀 Slamet is considering changing his BPJS status from Mandiri (independent) to Penerima Bantuan Iuran (PBI), which could provide financial relief from the debt.
• 😀 BPJS offers several payment options, including the PBI program, which could reduce the burden of BPJS premiums for low-income families like Slamet’s.
• 😀 Another option for those with significant arrears is the 'rehabilitation' (Rehab) program, which allows people to pay their overdue premiums in installments.
• 😀 Participants who have been overdue for over two years can settle their debt by paying only 24 months' worth of premiums, instead of paying the full amount.
• 😀 Since its launch in January 2022, only a small fraction (about 3,500 out of 139,000) of eligible participants have enrolled in the Rehab program, indicating limited success or awareness.
• 😀 The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation for BPJS participants, many of whom were laid off and lost their sources of income, making it harder for them to pay their premiums.
• 😀 BPJS' rules state that even if a participant switches to the PBI program, any outstanding arrears must still be paid. The debt is tied to the individual, not the program status.

Q & A

What is the primary issue faced by Slamet and his family?

Slamet and his family are struggling with unpaid BPJS health insurance contributions that have accumulated for over two years, following his job loss at a government agency.

Why did Slamet and his family stop paying BPJS premiums?

Slamet stopped paying BPJS premiums after he lost his job at a government agency, and his family’s health insurance was no longer automatically deducted from his salary.

What are the financial challenges faced by Slamet's family in repaying the arrears?

Slamet earns a living by selling vegetables, and his wife works as a housekeeper at a guesthouse. Their income is limited, making it very difficult to pay the accumulated BPJS arrears in one lump sum.

What option is Slamet considering to ease the burden of the arrears?

Slamet is considering switching his BPJS status from 'Mandiri' (independent) to 'Penerima Bantuan Iuran' (PBI), a government assistance program that provides subsidized premiums for low-income families.

What is the BPJS 'rehab' program, and how does it work?

The BPJS 'rehab' program allows participants to pay off their arrears through installment payments. Those who have overdue payments of over two years only need to pay 24 months of premiums, making the repayment process more manageable.

How successful has the BPJS 'rehab' program been since its launch?

The 'rehab' program, launched in January 2022, has seen limited participation, with only 3,500 out of 139,000 eligible participants in East Java enrolling in the program.

What does Perpres 64/2022 say about BPJS arrears?

According to Perpres 64/2022, BPJS arrears remain the responsibility of the participant, even if they switch to the PBI program, meaning they are still required to pay off their past debts.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected BPJS participants' ability to pay premiums?

The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread job losses and reduced incomes, making it even more difficult for BPJS participants to keep up with their health insurance premiums and resulting in more individuals falling into arrears.

How many people in Surabaya are enrolled in BPJS?

In Surabaya, nearly 3.2 million people are enrolled in BPJS, which represents a significant portion of the city's population.

What challenges does the local government face in ensuring coverage for BPJS participants?

Despite enrolling a large portion of the population in BPJS, local government programs have not fully addressed the financial challenges faced by low-income workers, and the burden of unpaid premiums continues to be a significant issue.