Cost pressures squeeze Indonesia's universal healthcare program

Premiums are too expensive for many citizens.

Indonesia's national health insurance scheme continues to face heavy financial pressure even after four years of implementation.

Premiums for the Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional range from IDR25,000 ($1.65) to IDR80,000 ($5.28) per month.

These mandatory contributions will be prohibitively expensive for millions of the country's poor and will have to be shouldered by the regional government, according to a report by Indonesia Investments.

Starting 2019, the Indonesian government will impose sanctions on citizens who fail to comply with the mandatory insurance coverage.

For instance, citizens who do not participate in the JKN program will not be able to receive specific public services such as requesting new identity papers at the local administration or securing a driver’s licence.