EMPLOYERS in the private and government sectors may now remit their premium contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) electronically.

This development is made possible through the Electronic Premium Remittance System (EPRS) version 3.1, a facility that was upgraded from being a premium reporting mechanism to one that will now enable employers to remit premium contributions online.

“Initially, we have partnered with Security Bank for the online premium payment facility, but we are optimistic that very soon, other accredited collecting agents (ACAs) will make this facility available for our employer-partners,” PhilHealth President and CEO Alexander A. Padilla said.

The new EPRS will also enable employers to enjoy prompt acknowledgement of premium payments and immediate posting of their premium contributions.

Through the new EPRS, the process of premium remittance and reporting has been reduced from six (6) to three (3) steps, namely, updating of employees’ remittance status; generation of Statement of Premium Account (SPA); and selection of ACA to remit premium contributions online.

Once the online payment succeeds, the employer will receive an electronic PhilHealth Acknowledgement Receipt or ePAR. It will be reflected in the employer’s EPRS account and shall serve as the employer’s proof of premium payment.

“We call on our partner-employers to enrol their accounts now with any of the ACAs with approved payment facilities so that they can immediately avail themselves of the online payment facility in the EPRS,” Padilla said. (Faudia H. Subillaga)