M. Rakhman: Obligatory Terms of BPJS Health Burden Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims

08 January 2023 oleh admin

dpd.go.id - DPD RI member from Central Kalimantan Muhammad Rakhman considered the Ministry of Religion's (Kemenag) regulation requiring all prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims to participate in the National Health Insurance (JKN) membership at the Social Security Administration Agency (BPJS) Health as a condition for performing Umrah or Hajj is very burdensome for the community.

Rakhman assessed that the provisions stipulated in the Decree of the Minister of Religion (KMA) Number 1456 of 2022 concerning Requirements for JKN Membership in the Implementation of Special Umrah and Hajj Trips which took effect last December 31 are increasingly burdening the community. This is because every prospective pilgrims who will perform the pilgrimage to the holy land of Mecca has previously paid insurance, which is not small.

"Before leaving, the congregation was ordered to pay for insurance of almost Rp100,000 or more, now they are told to take part in JKN again. Even though if a congregation dies in the holy land, (JKN) it is not certain that it can be claimed quickly," said Muhammad Rakhman.

Apart from that, continued Rakhman, the regulation was also impressed as a form of coercion carried out by the government on its citizens. Because according to him, there is no connection between prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims who must become BPJS Health participants.

"I personally refuse. This is a kind of coercion that people have to join BPJS. It's as if extorting pilgrims and Umrah pilgrims from having to join BPJS for health. Meanwhile JKN will not be useful in Saudi Arabia and the congregation also cannot take advantage of it there," he said .

For this reason, he urged the government to immediately revoke the regulations that had been implemented so as not to burden prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in the future, bearing in mind that not all prospective pilgrims understand understand JKN.

"To the minister, don't add any more burdens to this congregation. At this time, the price of Umrah continues to soar, this is even making arbitrary decisions," said Rakhman. (*)