EN.malanginspirasi.com, Jakarta – A sudden policy to deactivate health insurance coverage for nearly 11 million low-income Indonesians under the BPJS Kesehatan (Health) program has ignited widespread controversy, leaving thousands of patients without access to life-saving treatments and prompting a swift government backtrack amid public outcry.
The deactivation, effective February 1, 2026, targeted participants in the Premium Assistance Beneficiary (PBI) program, which subsidizes health premiums for the poor through the national budget.
Based on Decree No. 3/HUK/2026 from the Ministry of Social Affairs, the move aimed to update beneficiary lists and redirect aid to more needy individuals.
Patients Left in Limbo
However, critics say poor planning and lack of communication turned it into a humanitarian crisis.
Patients with chronic conditions, such as kidney failure and cancer, were hit hardest. Members of the Indonesian Kidney Dialysis Patient Community (KPCDI) reported halted dialysis sessions, forcing some to pay out-of-pocket costs of up to Rp2 million ($125) per treatment or risk death.
“My condition worsened rapidly without therapy,” said one anonymous KPCDI member in Semarang.
Similar stories emerged from Depok, Bandung, Bone in South Sulawesi, and Makassar, where long lines formed at BPJS offices and social services departments as desperate families sought reactivation.
Protests erupted across the archipelago, highlighting ethical concerns over the abrupt loss of vital services for vulnerable groups.
In Depok, demonstrators blocked roads, decrying what they called a “medical poverty trap” that could force families to sell assets or delay care.
The uproar peaked on February 9, when Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR) convened an emergency consultation with government officials. The meeting yielded a temporary fix: reactivation of coverage for three months through April 2026, payment of all pending medical bills, and data improvements backed by an additional Rp1.4 trillion ($87 million) budget, plus Rp15 billion for about 120,000 chronic patients.
The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) condemned the policy as “maladministration,” citing inadequate socialization and coordination failures among the Ministries of Social Affairs, Health, and Finance.
YLKI has issued a legal summons, warning of potential lawsuits if systemic issues persist.
Background and Broader Context
The BPJS Kesehatan administers the National Health Insurance (JKN) program, launched in 2014 to provide universal coverage. The PBI segment covers premiums of Rp42,000 per person for 96.8 million eligible poor, drawn from the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS) or National Single Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN).
Deactivations began gradually in 2025, affecting 13.5 million, including 7.3 million in July. But the 2026 rollout, without prior warnings, amplified the backlash.
Officials justified it under a 2019 regulation to ensure aid targets the truly needy, such as by removing those deemed financially stable or with outdated records. The goal: reallocate slots to 54 million emerging poor. Yet, data mismatches—failed ID verifications, deceased beneficiaries, or untraceable individuals—fueled the chaos.
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Impacts and Long-Term Implications
Beyond immediate suffering, the crisis erodes trust in JKN, potentially deterring enrollment and increasing out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Government image has taken a hit, with DPR members blasting inter-agency silos. Hospitals face added administrative burdens, while minorities in majority areas report bureaucratic hurdles.
Experts call for digital data reforms to prevent recurrences, similar to data glitches during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 era. For affected individuals, options include checking status via the JKN app or BPJS offices and applying for reactivation if qualifying as poor, chronic, or in emergency need.
As Indonesia grapples with this fallout, the episode underscores the fragile balance between fiscal efficiency and human welfare in social safety nets.
