February 25, 2026 | 12:25 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said upper-middle-class citizens should not feel affected by the plan to raise the premiums for the state health insurance scheme, BPJS Kesehatan. He made jests about smokers, who, according to him, are able to spend more than Rp42,000 a month on cigarettes.
"The upper-middle [class], they should be able to afford Rp42,000. Men spent more than that a month for cigarettes anyway," the minister said when met at the Ministry of Health, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Minister Budi also ensured that the premium hike will not affect the spending of low-income citizens. “If the rates are raised, it will not affect people in deciles 1-5,” he said, adding that the BPJS Kesehatan premiums for this group are covered by the government.
The rate increase will only affect citizens in deciles 6-10, according to the minister.
The premium hike can no longer be postponed, the minister said, since the social insurance scheme remains in deficit and many hospitals face operational strains. “This is felt through delayed payments to the hospitals. Hence the necessity for structural changes," said Budi.
The Indonesian government has yet to detail the increase of BPJS Kesehatan premiums. Based on the previous independent contributions, the premium rates for class 1 are Rp150,000 per person/month, class 2 are Rp100,000 per person/month, and class 3 are Rp42,000 per person/month (with Rp7,000 subsidized by the government).
Previously, Coordinating Minister for People's Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar, familiarly known as Cak Imin, conceded to the plan to raise the BPJS Kesehatan premiums. This was in response to a proposal from Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, which was delivered during a press conference on Monday, February 23, 2026.
Cak Imin said raising the BPJS Kesehatan premiums would allow the government to run health reforms while also improving the insurance's financial system, which has been running a deficit.
The premium increase, he said, would only directly impact citizens in deciles 7-10, who are considered capable under the National Social and Economic Single Data (DTSEN). “Those at the bottom are already covered by the state budget. Therefore, no matter how much the premium increases, it shouldn't be a problem,” said Cak Imin.
Read: Health Minister: BPJS Kesehatan Premiums Must Rise
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Health Minister: BPJS Kesehatan Premiums Must Rise
1 hari lalu
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin calls for an immediate increase in BPJS Kesehatan premiums as the deficit exceeds Rp20 trillion.
Prabowo Appoints Prihati Pujowaskito as Head of BPJS Kesehatan
5 hari lalu
President Prabowo also sets the structure of the BPJS Kesehatan Board of Supervisors for the 2026-2031 period.
11 Million Indonesians Lose Subsidized Health Insurance, Here's What We Know
18 hari lalu
Deactivation of health insurance is in line with the process of updating the economic status data of the community carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Indonesia Revokes Subsidized Health Coverage for 11 Million Beneficiaries
18 hari lalu
BPJS Kesehatan said the deactivation affected participants registered under the premium assistance beneficiaries (PBI) health coverage scheme.
Budi Gunadi: Gov't Yet to Discuss Hike in BPJS Health Insurance Premiums
13 November 2025
The government plans to inject Rp20 trillion into BPJS Kesehatan or national health insurance system, to maintain its financial sustainability.
Only 24% of Indonesian Hospitals Meet National Facility Standards, Ministry Reveals
13 November 2025
Health Ministry official said a hospital's facilities are considered adequate if they reach at least 80 percent of national standard completeness.
Indonesian Gov't to Waive BPJS Kesehatan Arrears This Year
5 November 2025
The Indonesian government will waive overdue BPJS Kesehatan healthcare contributions through a registration renewal process.
Purbaya Preps Rp20tn to Clear BPJS Health Insurance Arrears
23 Oktober 2025
Finance Minister Purbaya also urged BPJS Kesehatan to improve its operational management.
Ombudsman Agrees to Write Off BPJS Healthcare Arrears
14 Oktober 2025
The Indonesian Ombudsman has urged the government to immediately eliminate BPJS Kesehatan (Healthcare) arrears.
Why BPJS Kesehatan is Planning to Raise Health Insurance Rates
15 September 2025
Indonesian Finance Minister reveals the reasons behind the planned increase in BPJS Kesehatan health Insurance rates. Here are the details.
