Pinoys urged to register as PhilHealth members to get childbirth benefits

ANDREI MEDINA, The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is encouraging male overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to register as PhilHealth members to avail of childbirth benefits for their spouses in the Philippines. In an interview with GMA News Online on Tuesday, Greg Rulloda, Vice President and spokesperson of the PhilHealth Corporate Affairs Group, said the existing childbirth benefits were enhanced to include prenatal, maternity, and newborn care benefits. The benefits can also now be claimed nationwide. “Tawag namin dito is ‘portability,’ kahit saang accredited hospital or professional ay pwede magpagamot. Even an OFW abroad who needs medical assistance can avail of this although he or his employer has to shoulder the expenses first,” Rulloda said. The qualified dependents of PhilHealth members include: (1) Legal wife (Muslims can have more than one as long as all are legal wives) (2) Children aged 21 or younger (3) Children with congenital disabilities (4) Parents aged 60 and above who are non-members “Sana po alalahanin nang ating mga kabababayan ang kahalagahan ng kalusugan hindi lang ng sarili kung hindi pati ng pamilya. Sa pagsali sa PhilHealth, nakakasiguro ka sa kalusugan ng pamilya,” he said. In a news release, Philhealth president and chief executive officer Dr. Eduardo Banzon, said they are encouraging male OFWs to become PhilHealth members because “more than half of our OFWs are male, and most of them are married and looking forward to have children.” The updated benefits for childbirth cases include: (1) P8,000 for every normal spontaneous delivery (up to P32,000 for four deliveries) in a level 1 hospital or lying-in clinic; (2) P6,500 for every normal spontaneous delivery (up to P26,000 for four deliveries) in levels 2-4 hospitals; (3) P19,000 for a one-time, non-elective caesarian section delivery in levels 2-4 hospitals, and (4) P1,750 additional newborn care benefit used for infant screening and other childcare tests such as weighing, hearing test, vitamin K administration and initial dose of hepatitis B immunization. Banzon said these amounts cover fees from prenatal care expenses, clinic and hospital charges, and the professional fee of the attending physician or midwife in accredited medical institutions. He also stressed that these benefits are on top of the existing benefits of active members and their dependents. “Should another dependent of the OFW be hospitalized due to dengue fever or for any other ailment while the spouse is giving birth to a baby, Philhealth will still pay for their respective benefits all together,” he said. The OFW will also be entitled to hospitalization benefits in the Philippines if he requires treatment in the country. - VVP, GMA News

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