PhilHealth integrates social health insurance in grade 10 curriculum

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has rolled out its campaign to integrate social health insurance (SHI) module in the tertiary education curriculum.

SHI learner’s materials, according to PhilHealth, have been included in the curriculum of Grade 10 students, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd).

The program is intended to educate the youth about the importance of social health insurance so they can avail themselves of the benefits.

PhilHealth said the program was introduced in the tertiary level of Sultan Kudarat Educational Institution in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat in 2015 and gained “favorable feedback.”

In the same year, it was integrated in the basic education curriculum of Rizal High School in Barangay Caniogan, Pasig City.

PhilHealth Regional Office 12 vice president Miriam Grace Pamonag noted that training had been conducted among DepEd XII MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health) Division.

“I always believe in the power and authority of teachers in terms of influencing the minds of the young learners. I, for one, can attest because when my son was still young, he used to assert that his teacher said this and that and it is what is right,” she added.

Pamonag maintained that there is no better way of introducing PhilHealth’s program to make it a lifestyle for all than having the young do it themselves.

It was learned that many PhilHealth members and their beneficiaries do not avail themselves of the agency’s benefit packages primarily because they are not aware of how to do so.