PHILIPPINE Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is making sure even poor and non-member Filipinos may avail of benefits especially in times of health emergencies.
PhilHealth president Alexander Padilla recently announced the agency is now strictly implementing the "Point of Care" which is a program to benefit poor Filipinos who are non-PhilHealth members and those not listed in the National Household Targeting System of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, now known as the Listahanan.
"Hindi natin siguro matatanggal na meron paring iilang mahihirap na hindi nasali sa NHTS listing ng DSWD," Padilla told media explaining poor people unlisted are not beneficiaries of any government alleviation programs.
He added PhilHealth extended their coverage to non-members and to the poorest of the poor to ensure "universal coverage".
He clarified even a poor patient may be confined to public hospitals accredited by PhilHealth where they will be screened and evaluated if they are indeed not listed in Listahanan or if they are considered "poor" or "very poor" to avail of the PhilHealth benefits.
Once qualified in the criteria set by the Department of Health, the hospital will have to shoulder the P2,400 premium payment of the patient to PhilHealth, which will make benefits available immediately for the patient.
He added no less than three times the said value can be availed by the patient during the period of admission in the PhilHealth accredited public hospital.
Padilla informed the public hospitals are using a computer program called "Portal" where they can verify whether a patient is included in Listahanan or not.
He also revealed PhilHealth has received a national subsidy at P35.3 billion this year from the government for the premium benefits of around 14.7 million households or close to 50 million beneficiaries.
PhilHealth continues to bring about win-win-win situation between the agency, hospitals and the patients in providing health benefits through their programs that do not only benefit its members and their dependents but also to disadvantaged Filipinos.