CEBU, Philippines - Premium payments of land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are now accepted in Allied Bank branches nationwide.
Allied Bank is a PhilHealth-accredited collecting agent for the premiums of individually-paying members and the contribution of employees.
With Circular 8-2011, it can now receive premiums of registered-OFWs. The circular details how OFWs and other members, including employers, can pay premium at the bank.
Documented land-based OFWs are required to secure PhilHealth coverage before leaving the country. As such, they shall be enrolled under the Overseas Workers Program (OWP) where they pay an annual premium of P900, also equivalent to a year’s worth of coverage counted from the date of payment.
When paying premium at the bank, OFWs must present a copy of their current employment contract, work permit, visa, or passport with visa. Premium payment must be updated on or before expiry of its one-year validity to ensure continuous coverage.
OFWs and others paying PhilHealth premium at Allied Bank must fill out its bills payment slip. The bank-validated bills payment slip shall be recognized as proof of payment for the purpose of availing of benefits.
OFWs may also pay premium at any of PhilHealth’s partner banks abroad such as the DBP Remittance Center in HongKong and the Philippine Veterans Bank foreign tie-ups in London (United Kingdom), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and Doha (Qatar); and in iRemit Centers in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Also, a relative or representative of the member may pay at PhilHealth offices in the country by presenting any of the documents mentioned above proving the member’s status as OFW.
PhilHealth regional office reminds OFWs and their representatives that there is a PhilHealth desk in the POEA Cebu one-stop processing center that can process their registration and premium payments.