Government Injects Rp20 Trillion into BPJS Kesehatan

JAKARTA, Jakartaweekly.com— The government has injected Rp20 trillion into BPJS Kesehatan after the state-run social health insurance agency experienced negative cash flow. 

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that during a limited meeting on Monday, September 28, 2026, President Prabowo Subianto instructed that BPJS Kesehatan services be improved, waiting times shortened further, and hospitals ensure that they do not discriminate between BPJS and non-BPJS patients. 

Budi Gunadi Sadikin also explained that he provided an update on the current state of BPJS services to the public and informed the President that BPJS needed financial certainty to ensure its finances remained stable. The government has approved the disbursement of Rp20 trillion to BPJS Kesehatan this year. 

“Coincidentally, the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs approved the disbursement of Rp10 trillion plus another Rp10 trillion two weeks ago, bringing the total to Rp20 trillion this year for BPJS,” Budi said at a press conference on Monday, September 28, 2026.

Also attending the press conference, Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara explained that BPJS Kesehatan needs continued financial support to be able to pay hospital claims regularly. He also said that the Ministry of Finance had approved an additional budget of Rp20 trillion.

“This is on top of the budget to cover 96.8 million contribution assistance recipients. The budget for contribution assistance recipients is around Rp47 trillion, while the additional Rp20 trillion will be disbursed soon to support BPJS’s finances in October, which is only two days away, and November. This will ensure that BPJS’s finances are adequately covered,” Suahasil explained.

He also said that participation in the national health insurance program has succeeded in protecting a large number of Indonesians from healthcare financing risks. He claimed that BPJS Kesehatan’s national health insurance program is one of the world’s largest social insurance programs.

Suahasil said the number of participants has now reached around 285 million, with an active participation rate of 80.6%. He hopes that more people will actively pay their BPJS Kesehatan contributions so that the participation rate can continue to increase.

“Of course, as a social insurance program, we want the entire population to actively pay their contributions because when people actively pay their contributions, healthy mutual cooperation takes place. If someone falls ill, or becomes ill later in life, their healthcare costs can be covered,” Suahasil explained.

The Ministry of Finance is also encouraging better collection of BPJS Kesehatan contributions and improved targeting of contribution assistance recipients, in line with the National Single Socioeconomic Data (DTSEN).

Furthermore, BPJS Kesehatan President Director dr. Prihati Pujowaskito, who also attended the meeting, explained that the agency is currently experiencing negative cash flow due to a gap between the amount of contributions collected and the amount of benefits paid. 

Prihati said that as of September 2026, BPJS Kesehatan had collected Rp118 trillion in contributions, while benefits paid had reached Rp132 trillion. This resulted in a negative gap of Rp14 trillion between contribution revenue and spending on benefits.

“So, there is a cash flow gap that we need to address so that we can continue to pay for the healthcare services that have already been provided by healthcare facilities,” Prihati said.

She also explained that the cash flow gap was caused by several factors. First, there are 52 million participants who are not actively paying their contributions. If Class III participants were to actively pay their contributions, BPJS Kesehatan could collect around Rp2 trillion per month, or potentially Rp24 trillion per year.

In addition, BPJS has a contribution adjustment mechanism that has not yet been implemented, even though the proposal was submitted six years ago.

The third factor is medical cost inflation, population growth, and changes in disease patterns, which have led to increased healthcare utilization.

“We are also working to address several smaller issues, including fraud in healthcare services. It is also important that we shift from a volume-based approach to a value-based approach,” she explained.

According to Prihati, a volume-based approach can encourage healthcare providers to pursue higher service volumes in order to receive larger claims, potentially placing less emphasis on service quality.

Going forward, BPJS will continue to promote value-based healthcare and improve service quality for participants by ensuring that services are provided according to their needs.