Gov’t allots P3.5 B for free health insurance services

Nearly five million Filipino families belonging to the poorest 25 percent of the population can look forward to adequate social protection in case of medical emergencies as the government has allotted P3.5 billion this year for a program that provides free health insurance services for the poor, the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) said yesterday.

NAPC chief Secretary Domingo Panganiban said the national government and its local government partners plan to subsidize health insurance premiums worth P1,200 each for a targeted 4.8 million poor families under the Sponsored Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

“The beneficiaries of the PhilHealth Sponsored Program will enjoy the same benefits enjoyed by all regular PhilHealth members,” he said.

Panganiban’s announcement comes on the heels of President Arroyo’s instructions for NAPC and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) to discuss ways to help the poor cope with record-high fuel prices.

“The President is determined to ensure better social protection services for the poor, which is why the government is aggressively pushing for the maintenance and expansion of this program,” he said.

The NAPC chief said the national government expects local government units to disburse an additional P2.13 billion for the PhilHealth Sponsored Program this year alone. – Paolo Romero