Poor Pinoys to get free PhilHealth benefits starting in August
Starting August, poor Filipinos can avail themselves of medical services even if they cannot pay for it.
The government is set to fully implement the National Health Insurance Act (NHIA) starting August, or nearly two months since President Benigno Simeon Aquino II signed into law a bill ensuring PhilHealth coverage to all Filipinos, including indigents and persons with disabilities.
Republic Act 10606, or the National Health Insurance Act of 2013, amends Republic Act 7875 or the National Health Insurance Act of 1995.
Under the new law, all Filipino citizens, regardless of social and economic status, shall be covered by the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).
RA 10606 mandates the compulsory enforcement of the NHIP “in all provinces, cities and municipalities nationwide, notwithstanding the existence of Local government unit-based health insurance programs.”
Once the NHIA is implemented, Filipinos who are included in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) list of poor households under the National Household Targeting System (NHTS) or whose healthcare insurance is sponsored by local government units (LGUs) automatically become PhilHealth members even if they have not paid any contribution.
No excuse not seek medical care
Department of health (DOH) Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag said in an interview aired on “State of the Nation” Friday that the new law ensures the poor will no longer have any excuse not to seek medical care.
“Hindi namin pahihirapan ang mga mahihirap. Ayaw naming gawing dahilan ng mga mahihirap na kaya sila hindi kaagad pumunta sa ospital ay dahil sa wala silang pambayad,” he said.
Another way for the poor to avail themselves of free medical care is for a Philhealth-accredited hospital to shoulder paying for their annual premium of P2,400.
According to Philhealth President and Chief Executive Officer Alexander Padilla, this option is available for indigent Filipinos who are not on the lists of DSWD and LGUs.
“Kung sa tingin ng ospital ay mahirap [yung tao], pwedeng ang ospital ang magbayad ng premium na P2,400 at bibigyan namin yung pasyente ng immediate benefits and privileges na ino-offer ng Philhealth,” he said.
Padilla advised poor patients to seek medical care at government hospitals to ensure that they will not pay anything for healthcare services.
“Sa government hospitals, singilin man siya, pwede siyang humingi ng claim directly sa amin sa Philhealth or pwede siyang magreklamo,” he said.
"No Balance Billing' policy
Under Philhealth’s “No Balance Billing” policy, sponsored members, or those whose healthcare insurance is paid for by the government-- do not have to pay anything should their medical expenses at a Philhealth-accredited hospital exceed the amount specified for their condition under PhilHealth’s case rates.
For example, a sponsored member whose medical expenses reach P12,000 due to dengue do not have to pay anything even if the PhilHealth benefits for his condition are only up to P8,000. The balance of P4,000 will already be shouldered by the hospital.
According to the DOH, the “No Balance Billing” policy is initially available at the following hospitals:
1. Rizal Medical Center
2. Fabella Hospital
3. Quirino Hospital
4. Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital
5. Las Piñas General Hospital
6. East Avenue Medical Center
7. Tarlac Provincial Hospital
8. Eastern Visayas Medical Center
Padilla said Philhealth is aiming for the full implementation of the policy in all Philhealth-accredited hospitals by August. - Xianne Arcangel, VVP, GMA News
The government is set to fully implement the National Health Insurance Act (NHIA) starting August, or nearly two months since President Benigno Simeon Aquino II signed into law a bill ensuring PhilHealth coverage to all Filipinos, including indigents and persons with disabilities.
Republic Act 10606, or the National Health Insurance Act of 2013, amends Republic Act 7875 or the National Health Insurance Act of 1995.
Under the new law, all Filipino citizens, regardless of social and economic status, shall be covered by the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).
RA 10606 mandates the compulsory enforcement of the NHIP “in all provinces, cities and municipalities nationwide, notwithstanding the existence of Local government unit-based health insurance programs.”
Once the NHIA is implemented, Filipinos who are included in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) list of poor households under the National Household Targeting System (NHTS) or whose healthcare insurance is sponsored by local government units (LGUs) automatically become PhilHealth members even if they have not paid any contribution.
No excuse not seek medical care
Department of health (DOH) Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag said in an interview aired on “State of the Nation” Friday that the new law ensures the poor will no longer have any excuse not to seek medical care.
“Hindi namin pahihirapan ang mga mahihirap. Ayaw naming gawing dahilan ng mga mahihirap na kaya sila hindi kaagad pumunta sa ospital ay dahil sa wala silang pambayad,” he said.
Another way for the poor to avail themselves of free medical care is for a Philhealth-accredited hospital to shoulder paying for their annual premium of P2,400.
According to Philhealth President and Chief Executive Officer Alexander Padilla, this option is available for indigent Filipinos who are not on the lists of DSWD and LGUs.
“Kung sa tingin ng ospital ay mahirap [yung tao], pwedeng ang ospital ang magbayad ng premium na P2,400 at bibigyan namin yung pasyente ng immediate benefits and privileges na ino-offer ng Philhealth,” he said.
Padilla advised poor patients to seek medical care at government hospitals to ensure that they will not pay anything for healthcare services.
“Sa government hospitals, singilin man siya, pwede siyang humingi ng claim directly sa amin sa Philhealth or pwede siyang magreklamo,” he said.
"No Balance Billing' policy
Under Philhealth’s “No Balance Billing” policy, sponsored members, or those whose healthcare insurance is paid for by the government-- do not have to pay anything should their medical expenses at a Philhealth-accredited hospital exceed the amount specified for their condition under PhilHealth’s case rates.
For example, a sponsored member whose medical expenses reach P12,000 due to dengue do not have to pay anything even if the PhilHealth benefits for his condition are only up to P8,000. The balance of P4,000 will already be shouldered by the hospital.
According to the DOH, the “No Balance Billing” policy is initially available at the following hospitals:
1. Rizal Medical Center
2. Fabella Hospital
3. Quirino Hospital
4. Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital
5. Las Piñas General Hospital
6. East Avenue Medical Center
7. Tarlac Provincial Hospital
8. Eastern Visayas Medical Center
Padilla said Philhealth is aiming for the full implementation of the policy in all Philhealth-accredited hospitals by August. - Xianne Arcangel, VVP, GMA News
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