Individuals and their families needing medical care in areas recently affected by three strong earthquakes are guaranteed to have continuous access to health care benefits during these fortuitous times.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) made the assurance following reports of injured victims needing hospitalization as a result of the consecutive quakes that rocked Cotabato and affected several nearby areas in Mindanao including Davao Del Sur, Sarangani, and Cities of Davao, Kidapawan and Koronadal.
Both PhilHealth members and non-members alike can avail themselves of PhilHealth benefits even if confined in non-accredited facilities subject to certain conditions as specified in PhilHealth Circular 34, s. 2013.
This policy confers special privileges to those affected by fortuitous events such as admission to accredited or non-accredited facilities but 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).
It also cover 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 in an improvised/satellite facility; and patient transfers from or managed by health care personnel from accredited facilities in an evacuation area, or in improvised health care facilities.
The policy also extends additional privileges such as exemption from the 45 days annual benefit limit, Single Period of Confinement 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.
In these trying times, PhilHealth assures the public that it remains committed to its promise of providing Filipinos especially those who are in need with financial protection during calamities and catastrophes such as the one that recently happened in Mindanao. (END)
