PhilHealth sees drop in collections

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) foresees a decrease in collection due to several companies threatening to close due to the global financial crisis.

PhilHealth Central Visayas information officer Krisma Ivee Agraviador said that while they have yet to monitor the number of companies that have informed them of suspension or termination of operations, there is an increasing number of inquiries received regarding the process for submission of employer amendment form.

A company planning to stop operation or undertake suspension is required to submit a duly-accomplished employer-amendment form (ER-3) with attached necessary documents to the PhilHealth office.

Employees should also be informed of the plan for termination and suspension so they can take the necessary steps to ensure that their PhilHealth benefits are not suspended due to closure of their company.

PhilHealth told members affected by the suspension and termination to immediately shift membership category from being voluntary members to individually paying members (IPM).

PhilHealth said that this will ensure that the member’s eligibility to avail of PhilHealth benefits is not suspended.

Agraviador said that PhilHealth is really focusing on empowering their IPMs so they will not be affected by companies shutting down and mass termination nowadays.

PhilHealth’s aim is that by 2009, 85 percent of the population will be covered by the program to sustain their collection.

Agraviador assures however that right now, PhilHealth can still sustain and pay the benefits of the members, despite many companies that have terminated their operations, as the corporation is being backed by the government.  

PhilHealth also advised its members to immediately process and get their Member Data Records at PhilHealth service centers for information verification purpose.

Agraviador said that through the MDR, members will be able to verify all their records at PhilHealth and errors may be corrected immediately.

MDR is now required for members who are availing of benefits for hospitalization.

PhilHealth said that members should not wait until they themselves or their dependents get hospitalized before they secure a copy of MDR. PhilHealth warns that it is a time-consuming process that may delay them of availing PhilHealth benefits. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja/BRP (THE FREEMAN)