Bohol renews Philhealth coverage of 32T families

The local government of Bohol will continue to sponsor the PhilHealth premium of some 32,564 poor families for a two-year coverage ending on Dec. 31, 2013.

Despite concerns regarding increases in PhilHealth premiums, Bohol Gov. Edgardo Chatto signed a memorandum of agreement on Tuesday with PhilHealth Region 7 Vice President William Chavez at the governor’s mansion in Tagbilaran City.

PhilHealth recently adjusted its contribution rate which includes the annual premium of sponsored members. The Sponsored Program premium is now pegged at P2,400 per year, effective last Jan. 1.

However, LGU-sponsored members whose coverage expired last Dec. 31 were given an automatic three-month extension ending on March 31, 2012.

As an additional incentive, PhilHealth is offering another three-month extension (ending on June 30, 2012) to the coverage of existing members whose LGUs are willing to renew their sponsorship until the end of 2013 and commits to do so before July 2012.

PhilHealth also offers a 50 percent discount on premium to LGUs that will renew, add or enroll new members before July 2012.

For renewal of sponsorship, the local government units will only be paying P1,800 per family for a two-year coverage instead of P2,400 per year, on account of the six months total extension granted to existing enrollees. For new or additional sponsorships, LGUs will only pay P1,200 per family annually.

All these incentives are made available to LGUs that will enroll poor families for 2012-2013 before the end of this semester.

Budgetary constraints notwithstanding, Governor Chatto understood the value of providing health insurance coverage for his constituents. In committing to sponsor the continued coverage of poor families, the Bohol provincial government availed of the premium incentives PhilHealth offered to cushion the impact of the premium increase.