PhilHealth targets 100% membership coverage in WV
7.59M Ilonggos already registered
ILOILO City – To achieve 100 percent membership coverage i n Western Visayas, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation ( PhilHealth) is actively pursuing individuals f r om t he “non - f orma l economy sector” — or those earning independently — for enrollment or registration in the insurance program.
The inclusion of the nonformal economy sector is a challenge, said Janimhe C. Jalbuna, head of the Public Affairs Unit of PhilHealth in
Region 6.
This sector encompasses contractual workers, those without an employee-employer relationship, project- based workers, drivers, construction workers, and others.
As of August 2023, Phil Health’ s database indicates that 7.59 million Western Visayans are registered with PhilHealth, constituting 93.86 percent of the 8,092,366 projected population for the calendar year 2023.
During a press conference on Thursday morning, February 29, coinciding with the 29th anniversary celebration of PhilHealth and the presentation of accomplishments for calendar year 2023, Jalbuna bared the registration rates per province as follows:
* Aklan – 582,911 out of a projected population of 620,744 for the calendar year 2023, or 93.91 percent
* Antique – 572,310 out of a projected population of 627,581 for the calendar year 2023, or 91.19 percent
* Capiz – 797,871 out of a projected population of 830,058 for the calendar year 2023, or 96.12 percent
* Guimaras – 183,418 out of a projected population of 190,375 for the calendar year 2023, or 96.35 percent
* Iloilo – 2,459,883 out of a projected population of 2,592,781 for the calendar year 2023, or 94.87 percent
* Negros Occidental – 2,999,208 out of a projected population of 3,230,827 for the calendar year 2023, or 92.83 percent
Jalbuna said most members or registrants are direct employees from the private and government sectors.
“The employee sector is already a captured market because registration is compulsory under the law. The real challenge for PhilHealth lies in enrolling voluntary paying members or those who are self-employed; we are committed to covering them all,” said Jalbuna.
To include the aforementioned sector, PhilHealth is collaborating with state universities, local government units ( LGUs), national government agencies, and transport associations to encourage registration among their contractual workers, drivers, and other workers.
Moreover, all patients confined in health facilities who are not PhilHealth members are automatically registered by PhilHealth.
J albuna clarified that individuals could register without paying any registration or membership fee, provided they obtain a certificate of indigency from their barangay.
Individuals aged 21 years and above are eligible to register or become members of PhilHealth. However, those under 21 with the capacity to pay and who are employed can also register.
According to PhilHealth guidelines, children aged 20 and below are allowed to be dependents of their parents.
Garry Zabala, head of membership and marketing at PhilHealth in Region 6, mentioned t hat besides partnering with offices, local governments, and agencies, the PhilHealth team in Region 6 is actively conducting caravan and campaign activities to enroll members.
PhilHealth also participates in labor forums and activities of the non-formal economy sector to encourage membership.
“We encourage everyone interested in availing PhilHealth membership to register at our office,” Zabala said./