Aquino greenlights mandatory PhilHealth for senior citizens
MANILA, Philippines — About two weeks from now, all Filipino senior citizens will be provided with healthcare coverage through the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Republic Act No. 10645 or “An act providing for the mandatory PhilHealth coverage for all senior citizens, amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the ‘Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010’” was signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III on November 5.
It will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two newspapers of general circulation. It was published in a national broadsheet on Monday, November 10.
Under the new law, senior citizens not yet covered by the program will be enrolled using funds from the National Health Insurance Fund of PhilHealth.
More than a week ago, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Malacañang welcomed the proposed law in accordance to the government’s aim of having universal healthcare.
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