PhilHealth now accepts juveniles as members

The Philippines Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) now allows the enrollment of minors in its national Health Insurance Program through its Individually Paying Program.

Philhealth vice president for Contributions Management Group Gregorio Rulloda said premium contributions of the minors are paid for, by the minors themselves or by their guardians.

In an interview, Rulloda said that this initiative is in line with PhilHealth's mandate of universal coverage. "Minors or children below 18 years old who, under certain circumstances, do not qualify as legal dependents and are under the custody of a mature person who acts as their guardian, are now allowed to enroll under our IPP."

The IPP is PhilHealth's program for voluntary and self-employed members. It was introduced in 2001 to allow those who are not formally employed to seek health insurance coverage under PhilHealth.

"A guardian who wishes to enroll a minor under his/her care, may do so simply by accomplishing two (2) copies of Form M1b (Member Data Record) to be signed or thumb-marked by the minor-enrollee and countersigned by the guardian," Rulloda said. A notarized Affidavit of Guardianship is also required.

He added that a minor-enrollee may declare the following as his/her dependents: parent/s, step parent/s, or adoptive parent/s who are 60 years old and above, and his/her children, if any. Photocopies of supporting documents such as birth certificate, and marriage contract, are to be submitted and original copies presented for proper verification.

Contribution payment remains at P300 per quarter, P600 semi-annually, or P1,200 annually. The registration and payment of the initial contribution must be made only at any of PhilHealth's 17 Regional and 84 Service Offices nationwide.

"We are appealing to all guardians to enroll minors under their care to PhilHealth for them to have protection when medical services are required," said Rulloda. At the same time, he encouraged those who are over 18 years of age who can no longer be declared by their parents as legal dependents to similarly enrol with PhilHealth. "This is an avenue for those who are below 21 years of age but are married and/or are employed to enjoy hospitalization benefits through our over 1,500 accredited hospitals and 19,633 doctors nationwide," he said. - Jasmin R. Uy