Indigent residentsin Talisay to get free PhilHealth insurance coverage

CEBU, Philippines - At least 2,500 indigent residents of Talisay City are set to benefit from the free health insurance program of PhilHealth.

This after the city council, during its regular session last Tuesday, approved a resolution which would pay for the P2 million worth of PhilHealth cards for poor constituents.

Councilor Choy Aznar, proponent of the resolution, however said the beneficiaries are the same people that have benefited from the program since it was launched in 2005.

There are only about 2,500 to 3,000 of them, said Aznar, as the provincial government through Governor Gwen Garcia has already given the same services to a big bulk of the city’s indigent families.

Yet, the program will still cost the city at least P2 million, as PhilHealth has already increased its annual one-time fee of P1,200 per person compared to around P800 last year.

PhilHealth has increased anew the premium contribution to P2,400 at the start of the year, but Aznar said under the Partial Subsidy Scheme the city has until July1 this year to avail of the P1,200 fee provided it pays within the first semester of this year.

“Whereas, the City Government of Talisay has signified its intention and commits to enroll to the Sponsored Program under the Partial Subsidy Scheme their identified beneficiaries for two years inclusive of the extended validity period or up to December 31, 2013,” the resolution said. (FREEMAN)