Indigent families lose PhilHealth membership

CEBU, Philippines - The 37,000 indigent families in Cebu City who had been issued with PhilHealth cards by the city may face a problem if they need to be confined in hospitals because their membership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. already expired last June 30.

Mayor Michael Rama is willing to renew the city’s contract with PhilHealth so the beneficiaries of the city’s healthcare program can continue to avail of its services, particularly if there is a need for them to stay in the hospital.

Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, chairwoman of the City Council’s committee on budget and finance, said the City Council cannot just allow the mayor to sign for the renewal of the contract until after the budget for the healthcare program can be clearly indicated.

Although the City Treasurer’s Office has certified the availability of P50 million to cover the cost of the city’s share on health insurance coverage premium with PhilHealth, the city legislators have some doubts because the account is also being used for the City’s Hospitalization Assistance and Medicine Program.

The City Council had approved a P100 million allocation for the CHAMP program, but the City Treasurer’s Office said this includes the funds intended for the PhilHealth coverage of the indigent families.

“Inasmuch as the amended agreement (between PhilHealth and the city) is silent on the exact amount as well as the number of beneficiaries involved, this committee would like to request a report from CHAMP office, including the submission of its work and financial plan for the P100 million account prior to the approval of the memorandum of agreement,” said Osmeña.

In the previous agreement, the city will shoulder only P600 for each of the beneficiary’s annual membership payment to PhilHealth because it is the national government that pays the other P600.

But since the country’s insurance corporation had increased its premium, the amount of the city’s obligation to PhilHealth may also change.

If a PhilHealth member or his dependents will be confined in category 3 hospitals, the government insurance firm will pay from P4,200 to P40,000 for drugs and medicines, and P3,200 up to P30,000 for laboratories and others.

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 old if they are not PhilHealth members. (FREEMAN)