Health is wealth, as the saying goes. And with the rising cost of medical services and procedures, maintenance medicines and health insurances, this adage truly never gets old.
To help Filipinos receive the appropriate health care they deserve, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) was established by the government.
Philhealth is the premier health insurer in the country and mandated to provide social health insurance benefits and services to all Filipinos. The cost to be a member and enjoy such services is only roughly P1,800 / year. This amount already covers hospitalization expenses for the paying member and his dependents (children below 18 years old, parents 60 years old and above).
Further, Philhealth coverage is not limited to employed and “paying” members only. As a social insurance firm, the agency is driven to ensure universal health coverage for all Filipinos, even those, and especially those, that are not listed as “paying” members. The government subsidizes the membership of people identified as poor by the DSWD and LGUs so they too can be covered by Philhealth.
We are all in this together.
In February 2015, Philhealth declared that they have successfully listed 82% of the country’s population, as members. That is about 81.63 million Filipinos assured of health insurance, whether employed or not. Philhealth’s challenge is to reach out to the remaining 19% un-enrolled population; various initiatives are being studied to make the enrollment and membership process and requirements simpler and easier for all.
In the same year, Senior Citizens (60 years old and above) have been granted automatic membership to Philhealth; the government shoulders their annual premium contribution.
Philhealth vs. Private Health Insurance Companies
Private insurance firms are shifting to a new business model and their clients are now required to acquire Philhealth membership prior to signing up a policy with them. They maintain that the first peso spent for a member’s hospitalization shall be derived from Philhealth; anything above the Philhealth cap is shouldered by the private insurance company. This gives members an “additional” medical coverage, allowing the working class an increased edge in the fight against escalating health care costs.
Philhealth and private health insurance companies work together all for the benefit of its members.
Health Care Facilities and Professional Accreditation
While there is no law mandating doctors and health care specialists to seek accreditation from Philhealth, most, if not all, accredited hospitals require their physicians to be accredited. You will know that a hospital or clinic is Philhealth accredited by the Philhealth signage displayed in its receiving area as well as its streamers and billboards. Patients are encouraged to find out if the doctor being assigned to them is Philhealth accredited.
Philhealth is Online!
To know more about Philhealth membership or to access your Philhealth records, visit their website at www.philhealth.gov.ph. Make sure your Member Data Records are up-to-date and your beneficiaries’ and dependents’ information are correct. Claiming your benefits is much easier when your records are free from errors and corrections.
Getting sick and growing old are inevitable facts of life. Make sure you are prepared for both. If you aren’t a member of Philhealth yet, you can enroll online and begin paying your contributions.
MasterCitizen's Blog 
Ask ko lang yung sa husband q po 3 years na pong kinakaltasan hanggang ngayon ala parin pong laman
Hindi ho ba na re remit or nag che check kayo ng balance?
Paano po kapag noon may trabaho ka tapos may contibution ka. Paano pagnawaalan ka ng work?pwede ko pa rin ba magamit sa hospital ang philhealth ko kahit di ko na po nahuhulugan?
Kailangan kasi kapag gagamitin mo siya updated yung hulog mo. So kung nawalan ka ng trabaho at hinid na a update yung contribution mo at nagkataon kailangan mo gamitin hindi i a allow ng Philhealth yun.
Goood morning po,,ask ko lng po,,natigil po magbayad sa phil.health,,ngyon gusto kong bayaran ,,pwede po bang sa bayad center lng ako magbayad,,hnd na ako punta ng phil.heath,,at yung bago ko anak hnd nkalagay sa phil.health ko,,automatic na kaagad yun na mgamit nya phil heath ko,,kht hnd nkalagay doon,,or kailangan ko pa sya ilagay doon
Pumunta ka muna sa Philhealth office una para mag update 2nd para i advise na din sa kanila na itutuloy mo na ulit yung membership mo.
Member po aq ng philhealth pru po ntigil q po ung mgbayad buong taon ng 2016 po,ndi q na po ba mga2mit ung bnyaran q mula 2010 hanggang 2015 po f ever kailangn q cia?
Hi Julie,
Ang policy ng Philhealth ay dapat kumpleto ang contributions ng at least three consecutive months sa loob ng huling six months bago ang confinement. Para magamit mo ang iyong Philhealth benefits, kailangan mo lang umpisahan ulit ang iyong contributions at ma-update ang iyong account. Matatanggap mo naman ang kumpletong benefits basta’t updated ang iyong payments.
MC
Mag inquire ako ung philhealth.ng.bayaw ko.na stop ng payment since august kse na.lay off sa work now pdi nya bayaran mula.sept to.dia date?nkaconfine anak.nua pdi ba nya magamit?
Hi Amor,
Para magamit ang Philhealth benefits, kailangang kumpleto ang hulog ng member ng at least three months within the immediate the immediate 6-month period bago ang confinement. Just the same po, pwede din siyang mag inquire sa Philhealth kung pwede siyang bigyan ng chance.
MC
available po ba PVC ID sa provinces like Cebu?
Dapat kasi nationwide program yan eh.
hi. magandang araw po.
gustong kumuha ng PVC Phil Health ID asawa ko dito sa Baguio City, hindi pa daw available dito sa BAGUIO City. Senior Citizen na po siya. Retired OFW siya. marAming salamat po.
Hi Elsa,
Kung wala pa pong available na PVC card ang Philhealth sa area ninyo, kumuha na lang po kayo ng Senior Citizen ID ng husband ninyo. Maaari po yun ang gamitin niyang ID para sa mga Philhealth transactions niya.
MC
hangang ilan po ang dependent sa Philhealth
Wala namang bilang basta naka declare sila as dependent at qualified sila.
ask KO LNG if ako member ako ng philhealt then ung mother KO Hindi sya member she is 58 of age pwede ko ba mgamit skanya philhealth KO?
Hi Rose Ann,
Pwede mong i-check ang MDR mo sa Philhealth. Check mo kung sino ang naka declare na dependent mo. Kung Mother mo ang dependent mo, pwede mong i-apply ang Philhealth mo sa kanya.
ask ko lang po pani maka kuha ng pvc id ng philhealt san pwede mag pa gawa?
Punta ka sa malapit na Philhealth office sa iyo.
mag kanu po pag nag pagawa ng pvc id at gaanu po katagal bago makuha po?
Php 100 pesos lang yun bak after a month ma re lease mo na.