Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – The Health Ministry on Wednesday announced it has reactivated health insurance accounts for 120,000 patients with catastrophic illnesses who were previously removed from the country's subsidized universal healthcare program.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the reinstatement was formalized through official letters sent to hospitals nationwide, allowing affected patients to immediately resume treatment at all healthcare facilities.
"As a result, they can directly return to any health facility and receive medical services," Budi told a hearing with Commission IX of the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat in Jakarta.
The patients suffer from life-threatening conditions including kidney failure, thalassemia, and cancer – diseases that require continuous care such as dialysis to survive.
Budi said the decision followed meetings earlier this week involving several ministries and lawmakers. He instructed hospitals not to turn away reinstated patients, stressing that the government has prepaid their healthcare costs for the next three months despite their temporary removal from the system.
The reinstatement comes after authorities recently blocked hundreds of thousands of subsidized accounts under BPJS Kesehatan, citing eligibility reviews that found some participants financially capable of paying premiums without state assistance.
The move followed BPJS reporting Rp 26.5 trillion ($1.6 billion) in unpaid contributions. Health Ministry data show that 63 million BPJS members stopped paying premiums in early 2026, up sharply from 49 million last year.
Budi said the government and parliament have agreed to write off accumulated arrears, enabling delinquent participants to reactivate their memberships and resume regular payments without outstanding debt.
He also criticized the presence of about 1,800 wealthy individuals still receiving subsidized BPJS coverage, noting that the lowest monthly premium is only about Rp 42,000. Many recipients, he said, should no longer qualify for government assistance.