CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–“We need all the funds, because the difference now is that all Filipinos can avail. So every peso counts,” said Delio A. Aseron, regional vice president of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)-10.
During a Social Health Insurance Education Series (SHInES), part of the Regional Association of Government Communicators (RAGCOM) regular information caravan and learning event at Mallberry Hotel, here, Aseron shared the importance of the contribution of each PhilHealth member.
The Universal Health Care (UHC) Law took effect in February 2019, followed by its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) in November 2019.
Because of the UHC law, immediate illegibility is implemented, wherein all members as long as registered and in the PhilHealth database, may avail of the benefits whether contributions are up to date or not.
“Hindi po hadlang na siya ay walang hulog o may kulang sa hulog, para maka-avail ng benefits. So move on na po tayo sa three months or six month na hinahanap, ng ating mga hospitals,” he said.
(It is not an obstacle that a member has no contribution or is short of his or her contribution in order to avail the benefits. So let’s move on from the three months or six months that our hospitals are looking for)
PhilHealth is not a private Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), but a social health insurance provider clarified Aseron, which means that contributions are also used to help fellow Filipinos who are sickly.
Senior citizens are lifetime members which include free PhilHealth coverage paid by the government, meanwhile, qualified dependents can also benefit such as legal wife or husband, all children 20 years and below without work and spouse and parents who are 60 years old and above.
One of the newest provisions of UHC is to strengthen the preventive package.
Aseron said, “What is happening is more on the curative part that is why PhilHealth introduced KonSulTa, Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Consultation that is worth it and correct).”
Although this is not new because indigent members and senior citizens are already given this package but with UHC, everyone is assigned to one primary care provider of choice, be it private or government where the individual will get his or her consultation.
A doctor will be assigned for a Philhealth member’s check-up and even family members. Diagnostic tests such as Fecalysis, CBC, chest X ray, lipid profile and others and take home medicines are also covered by PhilHealth.
The goal is to not wait for a person to get hospitalized to enjoy the benefits of PhilHealth, because of KonSulTa program.
PhilHealth’s target for 2022 is to register 64 primary care providers in Region 10. (JMOR/PIA-10)
