OFWs in NMI may now enroll in PhilHealth program

Filipino workers in the CNMI can now register electronically and become a member of the Philippine Health Insurance program, popularly known as PhilHealth, according to welfare officer Julie Fabian.

PhilHealth is a premier government corporation that ensures sustainable, affordable, and quality social health insurance that endeavors to influence the delivery of accessible quality health care for all Filipinos.

Under PhilHealth, allowed members are land-based overseas contract workers; self-practicing professionals; marginalized and less privileged families whose coverage is shouldered by the national government, or local government units, private individuals and companies or other philanthropists; employees in the government and private sectors, including household employees and sea-based Filipino workers whose premiums are jointly shouldered by the employee and the employer; and retirees and pensioners.

Fabian said yesterday that the electronic registration through PhilHealth’s online facility, the PhilHealth Electronic Registration System, can be accessed at www.philhealth.gov.ph.

According to Fabian, PhilHealth membership payments were accepted by the Philippine Consulate General back when there was still a PhilHealth representative on island years ago.

“We receive a lot of inquiries from Filipino workers about PhilHealth that’s why we’re happy to announce that they can register and make their payments online,” she told Saipan Tribune.

Fabian said the online system is more convenient for Filipino workers in the CNMI, given the impending closure of the Consulate.

To apply for membership, a Filipino workers needs to fill out the PhilHealth Registration Form and submit applicable documents for each qualified dependent declared.

Qualified dependents who are covered by PhilHealth without additional premiums include a legal spouse who is non-member or an inactive member; children (legitimate, acknowledged or adopted) below 21 years of age, unmarried and unemployed; children above 21 years but suffering from congenital disability; and parents who are non-members or inactive members. They must be declared by the principal member.

Applicable documents to be submitted are any of the following: valid overseas employment certificate or e-receipt; valid overseas employment contract or certificate of employment; valid re-entry visa; and valid job contract. These documents may be sent electronically or through postal mail.

Annual premium for 2012 is Php1,200. But beginning Jan. 1, 2013, annual premium will then be Php2,400. There is, however, a two-year, lock-in period option available until Dec. 31, wherein the annual premium will still be at Php1,200.

PhilHealth benefits include inpatient coverage, which involves subsidy for room and board, drugs and medicines, laboratories, operating room and professional fees for confinements not less than 24 hours; outpatient coverage, which includes day surgeries, dialysis and cancer treatment procedures such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy in accredited hospitals and free-standing clinics; and special benefit packages such as treatment for TB, SARS, Avian Influenza, and H1N1.

For more information, visit www.philhealth.gov.ph, visit their Facebook account “owp-philhealth,” or email owp@philhealth.gov.ph.