2.5 million househelps can get PhilHealth membership

OVER two million more Filipinos are being predicted by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to become their new members with the Kasambahay Law already taking effect Sunday.

According to PhilHealth, this became a possibility as an estimated 2.5 million domestic household helpers are seen benefiting from the passage of Republic Act (RA) 10361.

“The new law defines the labor rights of domestic workers, standardizes their pay, and entitles them to social protection benefits such as health insurance under the PhilHealth program, among others,” noted the PhilHealth in its latest advisory.

The new law took full effect after it was signed by President Benigno Aquino III last January 18.

Among its provisions are standardized salaries, as well as entitlements to social protection benefits such as PhilHealth.

And with this, the agency is calling on domestic household helpers to file their membership applications as soon as possible.

“Under the new law, a domestic worker and his/her qualified dependents such as legal spouse, children below 21 years old, and parents 60 years old and above shall be covered by PhilHealth,” it noted.

PhilHealth added that members are entitled to full in-patient benefits when confined in any government and private hospitals accredited with PhilHealth.

In applying, the PhilHealth said domestic workers only need to submit a duly accomplished PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF), which is available at any PhilHealth office or can also be downloaded from www.philhealth.gov.ph; attach supporting documents for qualified dependents; and submit them to the nearest PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office.

PhilHealth also reminded those with monthly salaries of below P5,000 that the law states that their annual contributions of P1,800 must be shouldered by their employers. (HDT/Sunnex)