To remind the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries of the benefits they can enjoy through PhilHealth’s Indigent Program, the importance of using PhilHealth cards was emphasized during one of the episodes of the DSWD: Kaagapay sa Pag-Unlad over DZNL Aksyon Radyo La Union.

PhilHealth Social Insurance Office Chief Madonna Valdez and Social Insurance Officer Joseph Manuel articulated the curative and preventive benefits of being a PhilHealth member especially to all Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries under the Indigent Program.

According to Chief Valdez, the policy is applicable to all accredited government health care institutions provided that they are confined in a ward type or PhilHealth bed accommodation. The said policy is also applicable to accredited private health care institutions but limited for now to selected cases and facilities (Contracted facilities for Z Benefit Packages, Ambulatory Surgical Clinics, Freestanding Dialysis Centers, TB DOTS Centers, Birthing Homes and Infirmaries and dispensaries – only apply to claims application for Maternity Care Packages and Newborn Care Packages).
SIO Manuel also added that Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries can avail of the preventive benefit through the Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya (TSekap) Program where each member of the family is provided with P500.00 per year or P125.00 per quarter. The fund is given to the LGU for the RHU/Health Centers based on their performance as set in PhilHealth guidelines. It can be used for consultation, drugs and medicines, capability building, IT infrastructure and others needed in the provision of the primary care benefits.

PhilHealth members under Indigent Program are based from the identified poor households through the DSWD’s Listahanan or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR).

Pursuant to PhilHealth Circular No. 24, series of 2012 with the subject “Entitlement to National Health Insurance Program benefits of all Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries of the DSWD”, the hospital shall accept Pantawid Pamilya identification cards as proof of membership. The mere presentation of the card shall be treated with presumptive validity and in good faith.
PhilHealth is one of the active data users of the Listahanan database and still serving the poor families when it comes to health care. (by: Jaesem Ryan A. Gaces, Administrative Assistant III, NHTS-PR/Listahanan)