PhilHealth Calls on Central Visayas Seniors to Register for Full Health Benefits
Health officials in Central Visayas are strongly urging Filipinos, particularly senior citizens, to register with PhilHealth to fully access the comprehensive benefits provided under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law. They emphasize that while all Filipinos are considered members under the law, registration is still essential to receive services.
Registration Process for Senior Citizens
Jenet Ann A. Advincula, Chief of the Field Operations Division, clarified that senior citizens are automatically covered by the law but must still visit a PhilHealth office to obtain an identification number. "What 'automatic' means is that they still need to go to the PhilHealth office so they can be issued a PhilHealth number," Advincula explained. She noted that the agency lacks complete records of personal details for seniors, such as their birthdates and addresses.
The registration process is straightforward: seniors only need to present any valid government ID and fill out a registration form. Under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, they are not required to pay any contributions.
Benefits and Services Available
Once registered, seniors can choose a Yakap clinic where they can access consultations, laboratory services, and medicines. Doctors can prescribe maintenance drugs, and patients can benefit from medicines valued up to P20,000 per year through this program.
Contribution Policies for Non-Senior Members
For members who are not yet seniors, Advincula stated that contributions depend on their payment capacity. "If they have the capacity to pay, there is a premium to be paid... 5% of their declared income," she said, adding that poor members can be marked as financially incapable by presenting certification from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to be exempt from premium payments.
Importance of Registration for Yakap Program
Dr. Maria Eliza A. Batucan, Chief of the Health Care Delivery Management Division, reiterated that registration is crucial to access services under the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (Yakap), which now includes medicines and cancer screening. She reported that Region 7 has over 274 Yakap clinic providers across Cebu, Bohol, Negros, and Siquijor, with additional facilities currently applying for accreditation.
"Once a member is registered, their first patient encounter is recorded," Batucan said, explaining that doctors assess medical history and screen patients for conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.
Comprehensive Services Offered
Yakap clinics offer consultations and 13 types of laboratory tests, including:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Creatinine
- Chest X-ray
- HbA1c
These tests are commonly used for outpatient cases like coughs, colds, asthma, and stomach ailments. Patients can also obtain 21 essential medicines at Yakap clinics for common conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and fever.
