PhilHealth provides health insurance to OFWs

• Posted by admin on June 18th, 2008 filed in What's New

Tacloban City (June 7) — Unknown to many, Philhealth assumed the administration of the Medicare Program of Overseas Filipino Workers since March 1, 2005. Since then, Philhealth has become an important partner of OWWA in taking care of the welfare of the OFWs.

Philhealth has the Overseas Workers Program or OWP where OFW may become regular members, Ms. Milagros Baltazar and Ms. Norma Mataro, Social Insurance Officers of Philhealth Tacloban, informed during the Press Conference to honor the Migrant Workers of Region 8, held at Leyte Park Hotel on June 6.

The Overseas Workers Program covers all land-based overseas Filipino workers whose jobs are covered by appropriate job contracts with overseas-based employers.

Under PhilHealth, the coverage assures the OFW and his family, of expanded and more responsive health care benefits. The OFW is also assured of lifetime coverage as soon as he reaches the age of retirement and have paid at least 10 month’s worth of premiums to PhilHealth.

The OFW has the privilege of paying only P900.00 annual premium, lesser than the usual P1200 annual premium of regular members. Another added perk for the OFW who avails of Philhealth coverage is that he and his dependents can already avail of the benefits the day after he paid his premium.

For the regular Philhealth member to be able avail of the benefits, he must have been a member for at least a quarter.

Aside from the OFW member, each of his qualified dependent will also enjoy Philhealth coverage without additional premiums. The qualified dependents include the legal spouse, legitimate, legitimated, acknowledged and illegitimate, adopted, below 21 years old or above but suffering from congenial disability, either physical or mental, or any disability acquired that renders them totally dependent on the member for support.

Parent who are 60 years old including step parents and adoptive parents may also become beneficiary of the OFW. All the qualified dependents shall be entitled to a 45 days per calendar year. However, their 45 days allowance will be shared among them.

OFWs who are qualified to become Philhealth members are active landbased OFWs who underwent normal process of registration as an OFW at POEA offices; OFW who are currently abroad but not yet registered with Philhealth.

Sea-based OFWs such as seafarers are considered locally employed members and not Overseas Worker members.

The Registration Procedure includes submission of duly accomplished M1b Form or OFW Information Sheet together with the applicable documents for each of the qualified dependent declared.

The active OFW must also submit proof of being active OFW such as Valid Overseas Employment Certificate or E-receipt; valid overseas employment contract or certificate of employment; valid re-entry visa and valid job contract.

The OFW must pay one year premium of P900.00, but for the convenience of the OFW, premium payment covering the entire contract is highly encouraged

source: Philippine Information Agency