Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara announced an additional state budget allocation of Rp20 trillion (approximately US$1.11 billion) to support the country’s National Health Insurance (BPJS Kesehatan) program.
Following a limited cabinet meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday (September 28), Nazara stated that the funds will be disbursed in two stages to stabilize the state agency’s finances.
The first disbursement of Rp10 trillion (US$555.6 million) will be released in October, with the remaining Rp10 trillion to follow in November.
This capital injection is entirely separate from the government’s regular budget of approximately Rp47 trillion (US$2.61 billion), which is allocated to subsidize the health premiums of 96.8 million lower-income citizens.
Furthermore, Nazara urged BPJS Kesehatan to improve its premium collection system and ensure that state subsidies are accurately targeted.
“We are pushing for better BPJS premium collection, and the targeting accuracy for subsidized participants must also be improved in alignment with the government’s Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS),” he stated.
BPJS Kesehatan currently covers around 285 million participants, though its active, paying membership rate stands at just 80.6 percent.
President Director of BPJS Kesehatan Prihati Pujowaskito reported that the agency has collected Rp118 trillion (US$6.56 billion) in premiums to date. However, the cost of outgoing healthcare claims has reached Rp132 trillion (US$7.33 billion).
This disparity has left the agency grappling with a cash flow deficit of approximately Rp14 trillion (US$777.9 million).
“There is a cash flow gap that affects our ability to continue paying for the services provided by our partner healthcare facilities,” Pujowaskito explained.
He welcomed the government’s intervention, noting it will ensure health facilities are paid on time.
“We are grateful to the President, the government, and the (Finance) Minister for providing this Rp20 trillion financial injection,” he remarked.
Pujowaskito also revealed that about 52 million BPJS Kesehatan participants have lapsed on their monthly premium payments.
If these inactive members were to resume paying – assumed with the lowest “Class III” premium tier – the agency could generate an additional Rp2 trillion (US$111.1 million) per month in revenue, he noted.
The government originally earmarked the Rp20 trillion bailout several months ago. However, officials stated in June 2026 that the funds could not be formally released until the necessary legal and regulatory frameworks governing the distribution were finalized.
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Translator: Genta Mawangi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Primayanti
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