PhilHealth extends up to March 31 the coverage of 5-M LGU-sponsored members

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 27, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  At least five million LGU-sponsored underprivileged families whose health insurance coverage expired last December 31, 2011 can still avail of the health care benefits from PhilHealth-accredited facilities until March 31, 2012.

Ms. Marimar Zabala, PhilHealth Tacloban information officer, said that this was announced by PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon who said the extended validity period will not entail any additional cost to the sponsoring Local Government Units.

Ms. Palacio said that this development will ensure the continued health insurance coverage of over ten million low-income and marginalized families who are enrolled under the Sponsorship Program. These include the 5.2 million poor families identified by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and whose coverage comes with National Government funding.

The PhilHealth Sponsorship Program provides health insurance coverage to less privileged families through a partnership where health insurance premiums for a year's coverage are paid in behalf of deserving members, Ms. Zabala explained.

The annual premiums of enrolled families are jointly shouldered by the National Government through PhilHealth and sponsors such as local governments, private individuals with philanthropic hearts and private corporations whose thrusts include poverty alleviation as an agenda in their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. Members of Congress also join the program as sponsors through their Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF, Ms. Zabala added.

Meanwhile, in order to address LGUs’ concern over the increase from P1,200 to P2,400 per year, in premium contribution rate starting this year, PhilHealth has developed a new payment scheme will make it easier for LGUs to renew their sponsorship of the indigent families’ coverage, Ms. Zabala said.

LGUs that opt to renew their sponsorship for two years until December 31, 2013, and undertake the renewal through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on or before June 30 this year, will be entitled to an additional three-month extension of validity date up to June 30, 2012.

Under this arrangement, the LGU will enjoy an effective premium rate for a two-year enrolment of only P1,800 per enrolled family.

If the LGUs decide to bring in new or additional enrollees into the Sponsorship Program and commit to provide them with coverage until December 31, 2013, they will be able to enjoy a two-year premium of P2,400.