Parents urged to enroll 21-yr-old children with PhilHealth

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is calling all parents to have their 21-year-old children, who are still unemployed or not yet covered as members, to enroll with them.

PhilHealth, in a statement, said though that 21-year-old children, who are already employed, can no longer qualify as dependents of member-parents.

Instead, they should enroll as principal members before or immediately upon reaching 21 years old in order to continue availing of PhilHealth benefits.

PhilHealth added that subject to evaluation, they grant exception to children with disability who are completely dependent on the parent for support. A medical certificate, issued within the last six months, describing the extent of the disability, will be required.

Gainful employment also disqualifies children from being dependents of parents even if they are still below 21 years old.

As employees, their employers are mandated by law to register them with PhilHealth and to cover half of their monthly premium while the other half will be deducted from the employee’s basic monthly salary.

PhilHealth added that marriage disqualifies children from being dependents of parents and if they are not covered as dependents of their spouses, they have to enroll as principal members.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the state-led health insurance agency has extended its “No Balance Billing” policy to household helpers or “kasambahays” as defined in Republic Act 10361 or the “Kasambahay Law” in order to provide more Filipinos with adequate financial protection against health risks.

Household helpers are advised to update their Member Data Records to ensure that all their legal dependents are included.

Employers must promptly remit the helper’s monthly premium contributions to ensure hassle-free availment of benefits, the statement added. — (FREEMAN)