P43 billion released for senior citizens’ health insurance

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released nearly P43 billion to cover the health insurance premiums of over eight million senior citizens.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman recently approved a special allotment release order and its corresponding notice of cash allocation worth P42.93 billion to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

The fund will cover the one-year health insurance premiums of some 8.59 million senior citizens nationwide. It is about 54 percent of the total P79 billion earmarked under the 2023 budget to cover the payment of health insurance premiums of indirect contributors, including senior citizens.

Under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, all senior citizens shall be covered by the National Health Insurance Program of PhilHealth.

The program aims to provide health insurance coverage and ensures access to cost-effective and quality health care services for all Filipinos.

Under the program, the premium contributions of poor families identified by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction are subsidized by the government.

They are also covered in the No Balance Billing Policy, where no other fees and expenses shall be charged and be paid for by the indigent patients above and beyond the package rates.

The list of benefit packages offered by PhilHealth to its members includes inpatient hospital care, outpatient care, emergency and transfer services and other health services.

Funds necessary to ensure the enrollment of all senior citizens not currently covered by any existing category shall be sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund of PhilHealth from proceeds of the Sin Tax Law.