EFFECTIVE March 1, all claims for health insurance benefits for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their dependents will now be processed by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
This was announced by Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, PhilHealth President and CEO following the release of Executive Order 392, amending Executive Order 182 which mandated the transfer of the Medicare program for OFWs from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to PhilHealth.
“Through our Overseas Workers Program (OWP), we officially welcome our modern-day heroes into the PhilHealth family,” Duque said. “This development is a major step towards fulfilling our mandate of providing health insurance coverage to all Filipinos.”
Under the National Health Insurance Program, OFWs confined abroad due to illness or injury are entitled to PhilHealth benefits, provided their eligibility certificates are active. Similarly, their families in the Philippines may avail themselves of the hospitalization benefits through any of PhilHealth’s 1,548 accredited hospitals nationwide.
For overseas confinements, OFWs are given 180 calendar days from date of discharge to file the claim with PhilHealth through the service desks in OWWA offices, as well as with any of the 16 regional and 84 service offices of PhilHealth. For confinements on local shores, OFWs and their families have 60 calendar days within which to file their claim.
“Apart from the existing benefits provided for under the OWWA-Medicare, OFW- members are assured of a more expanded benefit package,” Duque stressed. He said that PhilHealth has packages for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Tuberculosis through Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (TB-DOTS), maternity care and renal care services through free-standing dialysis clinics.
He also assured OFWs that the annual premium for health insurance remains at P900. The amount may be paid at any of PhilHealth’s 42 accredited collecting partners and their almost 4,000 branches all over the country. Overseas workers may also pay their premium in their place of employment using the currency where their payments will be made. “We have also accredited branches of iRemit in the United Kingdom, Singapore, HongKong, Taiwan and Australia through which the payments may be made,” the PhilHealth Chief said.
The turnover of the Medicare program also entails the transfer of P530M from the OWWA-Medicare. Duque said this amount is what is “actuarially needed to fund the basic OFW Medicare program for one year to ensure continuity of service to OFWs.” The fund transfer takes effect 60 days from date of publication of EO 392 last January 27, 2005.
Duque emphasized that with the transfer of program administration, overseas workers can rely on PhilHealth’s robust and stable financial status with its close to P51 billion in assets. He added that OFWs who eventually return to the country for good may continue their membership as Individually Paying Members. When they reach the age of 60 and have made at least 120 monthly contributions to PhilHealth, they may enjoy lifetime coverage without having to pay any additional premium.
“These are but some of the advantages that the transfer will bring to our OFW- members. We look forward to servicing the health care needs of our OFWs,” Duque enthused.
For OFWs and their families who need additional information about this development, please call 637-9999 locals 1823 and 1824.
