With the destruction brought about by typhoons Lando in Northern and Central Luzon and Nona in Southern Luzon, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) reiterates that it shall continue to provide its members with unhampered access to responsive health care benefits even during the calamity season.

Alexander A. Padilla, PhilHealth President and CEO, announced that the state insurance firm will continue to grant PhilHealth benefits to members and non-members alike who are confined in any medical facility licensed by the Department of Health (DoH), even if the said facility is not accredited by PhilHealth. “Nararamdaman namin ang hirap ng maging biktima ng mga kalamidad, kung kaya’t sinisiguro namin na ang PhilHealth ay laging naririto sa oras ng pangangailangang medikal, maging miyembro man ng PhilHealth o hindi.”

The guidelines on the provision of special privileges to those affected by fortuitous events stipulated in PhilHealth Circular 34 s. 2013, covers members, non-members and their dependents; admission to accredited or non-accredited facilities that are DoH-licensed or DoH-certified; and treatment and management by accredited or non-accredited health care professionals who are duly licensed by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).

Also covered by the institutional policy on fortuitous events are claims for medical treatment done as an outpatient or inpatient relative to the direct and indirect effects of the fortuitous event within the Health Care Institution or an improvised/satellite facility; and patients transferred from or managed by health care personnel from accredited facilities in an evacuation area, or improvised health care facilities.

The said policy also extends certain privileges like exemption from the 45 days annual benefit limit, Single Period of Confinement (SPC) and the less than 24 hour confinement policies; extension of filing up to 120 days, payment of premium contributions or extension of coverage, reimbursement for both referring and receiving health care institutions; priority in the processing of claims, extension of the deadline for submission of health care facility reports and extension of accreditation of providers, as applicable. (END)