LGUs renew Philhealth coverage for poor constituents

By Carina L Cayon

Monday 18th of June 2012

DAVAO CITY, June 18 (PIA) -- Indigent constituents from 21 municipalities and a city in the region are assured of PhilHealth coverage until end of 2013, as their respective local government units (LGUs) have recently entered into a two-year lock-in period with Philhealth’s Sponsored Program.

The LGUs, which also include the provincial LGU of Davao del Sur, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) last June 15 with PhilHealth, indicating the renewal of contract to sponsor the health insurance coverage of their poor constituents for the period January 2012 to December 2013.

Philhealth-XI Regional Vice-President Dennis B. Adre explained that the two-year lock-in period would spare the LGUs from the increase of the annual premium rate from the previous P1,200 to P2,400, which takes effect July this year.

Adre said the LGUs that would renew on or before June 30, and choosing the two-year lock-in program would retain the P1,200 annual premium covering the said period.

Adre said the actual premium for two years is reduced to P1,800 with P600 for 2012 and P1,200 for 2013.

Among the LGUs that signed in for the two-year lock-in period are the municipalities of Banaybanay and Lupon in Davao Oriental, and Asuncion, BE Dujali and Kapalong in Davao del Norte.

Aside from its provincial government, the following LGUs from Davao del Sur sealed a MOA with PhilHealth: Digos City, Bansalan, Hagonoy, Kiblawan, Malalag, Matanao, Padada, Sta. Cruz, and Sulop.

In Compostela Valley, the concerned municipal LGUs include Compostela, Mabini, Maco, Maragusan, Mawab, Nabunturan and New Bataan.

According to Philhealth implementing guidelines, the LGU will have to sign an Individual Policy Contract (IPC) with health for the lock-in period of two years.

The LGU is also required to pay in advance the first premium equivalent to P1,200 with the balance to be settled by installment, either on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis, as agreed in the IPC.

For LGUs that would choose the one-year renewal, the annual premium for 2012 is P1,200, while the premium for renewal in 2013 shall be P2,400.

However, given the three-month extension for those who chose the two-year lock-in, the actual premium for this year is only P900, which would give a total premium of P3,300 for the period 2012-2013.

The new Philhealth premium rates also provides the two-year lock-in period option for non-poor informal sector members and the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who could avail of discounted rates.

For OFWs, the annual premium was increased from P900 to P1,200 as of January 1 this year; however, the OFWs could still avail of the P900 premium if they could secure their overseas employment certificate.

By January 1, 2013, the annual premium required for the OFWs will be P2,400.

Adre bared that all four provinces of Davao Region have renewed their contract with PhilHealth’s Sponsored Program.

However, he said that with the new Philhealth premium rates policy, the national government counterpart that covers poorest of the poor in the National Household Targeting System (NHTS) has been removed from the LGU's list.

He explained that premiums of sponsored program members who were not determined as poor in the NHTS shall be fully paid by LGUs.

Adre disclosed that Davao del Norte has about 23,000 beneficiaries, 12,000 for Compostela Valley, 25,000 for Davao Oriental and 20,000 for Davao del Sur. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)