Philhealth exec: Most seniors unaware of health privileges

CEBU, Philippines - Several health programs are institutionalized for the senior citizens, but most of them are apparently unaware of these privileges, a government official said.

Some of these health services were presented yesterday before hundreds of senior citizens from Cebu City attending the opening of the Elderly Filipino Week celebration at SM Seaside City Cebu.

The kickoff activity dubbed "Walk of Life," spearheaded by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, was held simultaneously in 11 other places nationwide.

PhilHealth public relations officer, lawyer Karisma Ivee Agraviador, said the activity was aimed at letting the elderly understand the various health and wellness programs offered to them, as well as PhilHealth benefits that they could avail.

"They have to know that they have special entitlements from the government and they have to be aware of these for them to enjoy these at their age. It would be a waste if they can't avail of these privileges just because they don't know," Agraviador told The FREEMAN in an interview yesterday.

For one, the senior citizens were oriented on PhilHealth's Z Benefit packages for cases like coronary artery bypass graft surgery, cervical cancer treatment, and kidney transplantation, among others.

PhilHealth offers this special benefit package for Case Type Z conditions or "catastrophic illnesses" that usually warn of prolonged hospitalization and poor outcome if early intervention is not done.

In Central Visayas, Agraviador said the only medical facility that provides such package is the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Senior citizens who are not members of PhilHealth and have not contributed any amount to the insurance program since they could not afford are listed under the Senior Citizen Program.

Agraviador said the only thing the elderly has to do is fill up the registration form and submit an identification card or any document that could prove that he or she is a senior citizen.

"Automatically, you will be given the PhilHealth coverage. Your benefit is the same with all other members that has been contributing but you will not be paying for your contribution," she said, adding that the Department of Health will cover the expenses.

DOH-7 medical officer Dr. Dino Caing said senior citizens also have to register themselves in respective rural health units for them to be included in the Diabetes and Hypertensive Club that provides free medicines, regular check-ups and follow-up laboratory test.

"Only their duty as senior citizen is to register themselves for their inclusion to the list. They will not be provided with any if they fail to do so," Caing explained.

The agency yesterday provided free medicines and free testing for cholesterol, sugar and blood pressure.

The senior citizens, together with government officers, joined a Zumba dance and a 1.5-kilometer walk before the formal program inside SM Seaside City Cebu.

Among them was 74-year-old Domingo Chavez, the head of Cebu City's Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs, who hopes that the activity will be held yearly.

"It is important that we celebrate the Elderly Filipino Week because all of us will undergo this age," he said.

Agraviador, for her part, said that the activity reflects one of the deeply-rooted customs among Filipinos - that is showing high respect for the elderly.

"It's one of the known traditional values of Filipinos, our respect to our lolos and lolas. One of the things that I appreciate about our culture is the pagmamano that is slowly fading away. The more we celebrate the Elderly Filipino Week, the more we remember who we are as a Filipino people," she said. (FREEMAN)