Permanently disabled parents below 60 years old may now be PhilHealth ‘dependents’

SCREENGRAB from www.philhealth.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines – Parents below 60 years old but with permanent disability may now be declared as legal dependents of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) members.

In a statement, the country’s health insurer said PhilHealth members whose parents have been permanently disabled and have become totally dependent to the member, may now include them as their qualified legal dependents.

“As beneficiaries, parents can avail themselves of PhilHealth benefits in any accredited health care institution nationwide,” PhilHealth said.

This new development is embodied in Section 3.n. of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10606 or the National Health Insurance Act of 2013.

Members who intend to include their disabled parent as their additional dependent need to submit to the nearest PhilHealth office, a duly accomplished PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF) and a detailed Medical Certificate issued by attending physician stating the diagnosis, extent of disability and the date when the disability was acquired.

The PMRF may be downloaded from www.philhealth.gov.ph.

“We are mandated by law to provide health insurance to all Filipinos and extending the coverage to parents below 60 years old but with permanent disability is an approach to achieve universal coverage,” said Alexander Padilla, president and CEO of PhilHealth.

He added that parents below 60 years old whose current admission to an accredited health care institution resulted in permanent disability, can immediately be declared as dependents, and that the confinement would be covered, provided that prior to discharge, the necessary requirements have been submitted to any PhilHealth Office for evaluation and amendment of the active member’s Data Record.