PHILHEALTH REGISTRATION. The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. is encouraging youths who are 21 years old and above to register with the state health insurance as they no longer qualify as dependents of their parents. If they are still financially incapable, they could register as inactive members for free and still avail of the health benefit. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in Antique said youths aged 21 years old and above should register with the state health insurance because they no longer qualify as their parents' dependents.
PhilHealth-Antique office head Junie Sabusap said in an interview on Wednesday that they are embarking on a massive information dissemination campaign to raise the awareness of target members.
“Under (the) Universal Health Care (UHC) Law(‘s) Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), the 21 years and above children are automatically disqualified as dependents and that they need to be registered,” Sabusap said.
Those who are still financially incapable of paying their minimum PHP300 monthly contribution are advised to get a certification with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) or the medical social worker in the hospital so they could be registered for free.
“For those children 21 years old and above who are still looking for jobs, they have to get the MSWDO certification,” he said.
Sabusap noted that an MSWDO certification would attest that they belong to the poorest of the poor under the National Household Targeting System (NHTS).
Aside from that, they have to get a barangay clearance, birth certificate, and marriage certificate to be submitted to the PhilHealth Office in San Jose de Buenavista where they could also fill up a registration form.
“Children who are financially incapable to pay will be classified as inactive members of PhilHealth,” he said.
Sabusap said they would be classified as inactive members until such time they find a job and be able to pay their contributions. However, they could still avail of the PhilHealth coverage, he said.
“In Antique, there were already those 21 years old and above children who have availed of the registration for free,” Sabusap said. (PNA)
