Changes in welfare rankings cut BPJS health coverage for 178,000 residents in Semarang and Demak

A change in welfare rankings has removed subsidized BPJS Health coverage from 176,008 residents in Semarang and Demak, according to the Semarang branch of BPJS Health. The figure includes 113,569 people in Semarang and 62,439 in Demak.

Branch head Debbie Nianta Musigiasari said the Social Affairs Ministry had issued eight deactivation decisions for each district or municipality by August 2026. The policy covers participants classified in welfare deciles one through five, and the cancellations followed changes in the affected residents’ decile status.

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For Semarang City, around 113,569 people were deactivated. For Demak Regency, there were 62,439 people. So the total for this Semarang branch was 176,008 people.

Residents who still need assistance can seek reactivation through their local social services office. Applications must generally be submitted within six months of the ministry’s deactivation decision. BPJS Health cannot restore coverage independently because the Social Affairs Ministry controls the data on changes to welfare rankings.

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This deactivation resulted from changes in the decile ranking. Under government policy, PBI-JK covers deciles one through five.

By June, 16,643 Semarang residents affected by the cancellations had applied for reactivation through the SIKS-NG social welfare information system. Of those, 15,735 had regained active status. In Demak, 32,565 residents had begun the same process, and the ministry had approved reactivation for 30,370 of them.

Residents undergoing treatment for chronic conditions, including hemodialysis, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, can approach local social services with documentation showing that the treatment remains necessary. If the local office approves the request and issues a recommendation, the ministry will verify the case. Debbie said the process can take up to six months. If treatment cannot wait, local governments generally provide temporary coverage through the PBPU scheme.

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If there are participants affected by deactivation who still need health services, such as chronic care including hemodialysis, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, they can go to the social services office in their municipality or district with a letter stating that they still need treatment for a chronic illness.