City government eyeing P18 million for PhilHealth enrollment

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City government is eyeing the appropriation of P18 million to fund the enrollment of poor residents of the city in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Councilor Ronald Cuenco, chairman of the Council committee on hospital services, health and sanitation, said they aim to enroll the beneficiaries by January next year.

The city is yet to determine the number of beneficiaries but Cuenco said they include those who will be identified by the city's social workers.

At P600 monthly premium per family, the city may initially enroll some 30,000 households covering the period from January to December 2011. The remaining P600 will be shouldered by the national government.

Cuenco said that one PhilHealth enrollment per family will cover all the other members regardless of their number.

The qualified dependents are the legitimate spouse; legitimate, legitimated, illegitimate or adopted children below 21 years old; and parents who are more than 60 years and who are not PhilHealth members.

They will have the same benefits like those other PhilHealth clients receive.

Beneficiaries will come from the city's 80 barangays. Aside from being identified as the poorest of the poor, a beneficiary must be a resident and a voter of the city.

The requirements are basically the same with those of the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medical Program.

There will be a memorandum of agreement to be signed between the city and PhilHealth officials.

Cuenco hopes that the MOA will be included in the council's regular session on Friday. (FREEMAN)