News
PhilHealth Inks MOA with NOVADECI - July 17, 2006
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently
signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Novaliches Development
Cooperative Inc. (NOVADECI) to provide health and medical benefits
for its 25,000-strong membership.
The signing ceremony was held at the NOVADECI Bldg., in Novaliches,
Quezon City. Signatories were Rolando Gonzales and Delio
Aseron II, Officer-in-Charge and Marketing Head, respectively,
of PhilHealth’s NCR Central Branch, Lilian Ester DJ.
Lim and Diosdado T. Tamayo, Chair and Vice Chair,
respectively of NOVADECI. The event was also witnessed by members
of NOVADECI’s Board of Directors.
Lorna O. Fajardo, Acting PhilHealth President and CEO
said that the partnership will help PhilHealth in promoting
the Individually Paying Program, which is open to the informal
sector. For a minimal premium of P100.00 per month payable quarterly,
semi-annually or annually, ensuring the health of the family
is no longer a burden, she said.
On the other hand, Lim emphasized that the partnership with
PhilHealth will substantially enhance the existing medical assistance
for their members. "Ang nakita natin sa PhilHealth,
malaking tulong iyon sa minimal amount na one hundred (pesos)
per month. Lahat ng benefits pwede magamit sa hospital, mas
malaki ang makukuha nila," she said.
PhilHealth members may avail themselves of in-patient care benefits
such as subsidies for room and board, drugs and medicines, x-ray
and laboratory exams, operating room and professional fees of
attending physicians. Aside from these, out-patient benefits
include day surgeries, chronic care (dialysis & cancer
treatments such as chemotherapy & radiotherapy), emergency
& transfer services, first two normal deliveries & treatment
of adult and new cases of tuberculosis through the Directly
Observed Treatment Shortcourse. To date, 1,579 hospitals and
20,712 doctors nationwide are PhilHealth-accredited and ready
to provide quality medical care to eligible members.
Lim added that they aim to enroll all their members into PhilHealth,
especially the self-employed members who need health insurance
the most. "Gusto kong ma-cover ng PhilHealth ang lahat
ng members kasi malaking bagay sa kanila iyon," she
said. To date, NOVADECI has 25,000 regular and associate members
from Quezon and Kalookan cities.
Aside from enrolling members into PhilHealth, NOVADECI also
intends to be a PhilHealth collecting agent to make it easier
for members to pay their PhilHealth premiums.
NOVADECI was formerly known as Novaliches Vendors Credit Union,
Inc. It was established in 1976 and started by a group of vendors.
From a simple loaning group, it expanded its services to include
health and medical, mutual benefit, consumer retail and merchandising,
and educational training. It has also launched and implemented
several projects for its members, including housing, microfinance
and livelihood programs.