(File photo)
MANILA – An official of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Thursday said college students are required to be registered with them or in any private health insurance before taking part in face-to-face classes.
In a televised public briefing, PhilHealth Vice President for Corporate Affairs, Dr. Shirley Domingo, said the requirement came from the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Health through a joint department order.
"Nakalagay po doon na iyong estudyante ay kailangan pong magkaroon ng PhilHealth registration o kahit anong katumbas na medical insurance para magkaroon naman sila ng proteksiyon habang nagpi-face-to-face classes po sila (It stated that the student must have a PhilHealth registration or any equivalent medical insurance for them to have protection as they participate in face-to-face classes)," Domingo said.
While the PhilHealth is yet to have the exact number of college students who have registered, Domingo noted that the agency continues to receive applications from their regional offices and some schools.
Under the national health insurance program, individuals under 21 years old are dependents of primary members like parents.
Students under 21 years old who are registered through their parents simply need to show the PhilHealth Member Data Record (MDR) to their schools, Domingo noted.
"Kung hindi naman nadeklara as dependent sa mga magulang nila, so ang advice po natin sa mga magulang na mag-update ng kanilang membership at idagdag itong mga estudyante na ito as their dependents (If they're not declared as dependents by their parents, the parents are advised to update their membership and add the students as dependents)," she said.
Students who are 21 years old and above are encouraged to register directly to any of the PhilHealth offices as primary members.
Since they are primary members, they will be given a PhilHealth Identification Number which they can use as primary contributors to pay online using the PhilHealth website. They can pay also in selected banks or in accredited collecting agents.
"Kung ma-expose sila sa Covid at magka-Covid, then they can avail of the Covid benefits. Kung ma-isolate sila sa mga community isolation units, mayroon tayong benefits doon, or – huwag naman po – pero in-patient benefits, mayroon din tayo (If they're exposed to Covid and contract the disease, they can avail of the Covid benefits. If they'll be isolated in community isolation units, we have benefits or in-patient benefits, we also have that)," Domingo said. (PNA)
