Philhealth Lowers Eligibility Terms

[Jollygoodfellow]

Three is better than nine   :cheersty:

 

 

TO ENSURE that all members could avail themselves of its benefit coverage, Philhealth will only require at least three monthly contributions within the immediate six months before confinement.

 

In the past, individually paying members were required to have at least nine monthly contributions within the immediate 12 months prior to the month of availment for select surgical procedures, cancer treatment like chemotherapy or radiotherapy, dialysis and pregnancy related cases.

 

But as prescribed in the implementing rules and regulations of the National Health Insurance Act of 2013, members, including their dependents, are entitled to Philhealth benefits as long as they have paid premium contributions for at least three months within the six months prior to the first day of availment.

 

Members are also given an option to pay in full the required premium for the calendar year if ever the three-over-six month requirement is not met. These include employees with no income for particular months, such as those who are on leave without pay or extended leave and members engaged in seasonal employment.

 

Those who are separated from employment or whose coverage as sponsored member or as overseas Filipino worker (OFW) has ended, including members who missed to pay their premium contributions, may opt to pay for the unpaid months of the applicable year.

 

To avail outright deduction of Philhealth benefits, premium payments should be made on or before the date of discharge from the hospital.

 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/lifestyle/2013/12/29/philhealth-lowers-eligibility-terms-320849

[JJReyes]

Sounds simple. It's the same for the Canadian and British healthcare programs. Why can't the United States just copy what other countries are doing? The present system is a nightmare. My wife and I have Medicare A and we each pay an additional $104.90 a month for Medicare B. Yet our annual co-payment is up to a maximum of $4,500 each.