THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are joining hands to ensure that orphans, abandoned and abused children, out-of-school youth and other minor children being cared for in the latter’s residential care facilities are provided with social health insurance coverage.

Consistent with its vision statement of “Bawat Pilipino miyembro. Bawat miyembro protektado. Kalusugan natin segurado,” PhilHealth worked closely with the DSWD whose own vision is to improve the quality of life of the poor and reduce poverty by year 2030, for the group enrolment and coverage of minor children under the care and custody of the latter as Sponsored Members.

“Ang bawat batang Pilipino ay may karapatang magkaroon ng proteksyong pangkalusugan nang maisiguro ang kanilang maayos na kinabukasan,” said Alexander A. Padilla, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer. He added that even minor children under the DSWD’s care should be entitled to social protection programs such as health insurance “dahil bahagi sila ng lipunan na kailangan nating pangalagaan din.”

A memorandum of agreement was signed between the two government agencies at the Chardonnay by Astoria on the occasion of PhilHealth’s 21st Anniversary. Signatories to the MoA were Padilla and DSWD Undersecretary Vilma B. Cabrera.

Under the agreement, the DSWD shall identify the qualified beneficiaries under the care and custody of DSWD Residential Care Facilities based on a criteria. It shall also determine the increment beneficiary slots depending on the necessity to do so and availability of medical funds. In addition, it shall remit to PhilHealth the prescribed annual premium contributions of beneficiaries enrolled as a group or individually.

Enrollees to the program are orphans, abandoned and abused children, out-of-school youth and children with special needs, street children, minor children who are pregnant or with child, children with disability who are below 17 years old, battered women, and clients above 18 years old but are unable to fully take care of themselves and who are under the care of DSWD Residential Care Facilities.

Three (3) children below 17 years old may apply for PhilHealth coverage as a group, while minor children who are pregnant or with a child, shall enroll individually. As Sponsored members, they are entitled to avail themselves of all benefit packages such as inpatient care, outpatient care, Primary Care Benefits, Maternity Care Package, Newborn Care Package, and Z benefits, among others.

Padilla stressed the importance of health protection for all Filipinos, especially the nation’s next generation. “PhilHealth believes that everyone has the right to health. Hence, extending PhilHealth benefits to orphans is an assurance that the health of everyone is in good hands.” The agreement shall take effect in the first quarter of 2016. (END) (Dianna Marie S. Chua)