PHIL HEALTH INSURANCE, MERRIEST LIFETIME GIFT TO INDIGENTS
by Necitas G. Alconis

The merriest Christmas gift to indigents is enrolling them to be Phil. Health Insurance members that will benefit them and their dependents. The first enrolment of some 325 province-wide to date is sponsored by the provincial government. Governor Vicente S. Gato was very responsive to indigents' insurance.

The local government pledged to fund succeeding enrolees depending on the number the LGU budget can afford to sponsor.

DSWD conducts the survey in the municipalities and certify the qualified indigents members based on identified criteria of which one id the annual family income that should not exceed the poverty threshold of P9, 317.00.

The DSWD endorses certification with other documents to Phil. Health for approval. The annual premium is computed at a friendly and minimal sharing between the local government and Phil. Health. Annual premium per enrolee/household of P1, 188.00 is shared at 10% LGU and 90% Phil. Health on its first and second year; 20% - 80% respectively on the 3rd year; 30% - 70% on the 4th year; 40% - 60% on the 5th year and 50 - 50 sharing on the 6th year.

Monitoring is conducted annually by DSWD to update listing of beneficiaries. In the event that the annual family income exceeds the poverty threshold in the succeeding years, he shall be replaced by a qualified and certified indigent. So thus renewal is done annually. Other instances for replacement are death of a member and change of residence.

Dependents of indigent-members to avail the insurance are his legitimate spouse and children aged 20 years and below who are unmarried and unemployed. In the case of physical and/or mentally disabled dependents, they may be 21 years and above, yet covered by the insurance upon submission of a certification of disabilities from a physician.

Phil. Health Insurance for indigents translates a generous assistance from the provincial government and LGUs. The 325 first batch enrolees are now enjoying Phil. Health benefits.