MEDICAL INSURANCE REQUIREMENT LIFTED. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Undersecretary Michel Kristian Ablan, says during a Palace press briefing on Friday (May 27, 2022) that the Inter-Agency Task Force has approved the lifting of medical insurance requirements for college students. The Commission on Higher Education has earlier recommended repealing the requirement for students. (Screengrab)
MANILA – College students will no longer be required to secure medical insurance for their in-person class attendance as the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) repealed the order on Friday.
In a Palace press briefing, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Undersecretary Michel Kristian Ablan, said the IATF has just approved the lifting of the requirement for higher education institutions (HEIs).
“Inaprubahan na rin ng IATF, base po sa rekomendasyon ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED), ang pag-repeal sa medical insurance ng mga estudyante (The IATF has approved the recommendation of the Commission on Higher Education to repeal the medical insurance [requirement] among students),” Ablan said.
No specification has been disclosed regarding the IATF’s approval.
Several groups have been calling to lift the requirement as it means additional costs for students.
The University of the Philippines Office of the Student Regent, among numerous organizations, has earlier appealed to authorities to provide medical insurance for all.
The order is indicated in the CHED - Department of Health joint memorandum circular 2021-004.
Under Section IV.H of the memorandum circular, HEIs are tasked to ensure all students who will participate in the limited face-to-face classes must be registered with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or equivalent insurances that include coverage for expenses related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Under Alert Level 1 classification, learners may attend their limited face-to-face classes. (PNA)
