PhilHealth Urges Senior Citizens to Register for Full UHC Benefits in Central Visayas
Health officials in Central Visayas are strongly encouraging Filipinos, particularly senior citizens, to complete their registration with PhilHealth to fully utilize the benefits provided under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law. They emphasize that while all Filipinos are automatically considered members under the law, formal registration remains a critical step to access healthcare services.
Clarification on Automatic Coverage for Seniors
Jenet Ann Advincula, chief of the Field Operations Division, clarified that senior citizens are automatically covered by law but must still visit a PhilHealth office to be issued 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 seniors' personal details, such as birthdays and addresses, making this process necessary.
The registration process is straightforward: seniors only need to present any valid government-issued ID and fill out a registration form. Under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, they are exempt from paying premiums. Once registered, seniors may select a Yakap clinic where they can access consultations, laboratory services, and medicines. Doctors may prescribe maintenance drugs, and patients can avail themselves of medicines worth up to P20,000 per year through the program.
Contribution Details for Non-Senior Members
For non-senior members, Advincula stated that contributions depend on the capacity to pay. "If they have the capacity to pay, there is a premium to be paid… Five percent of their declared income," she said. Indigent members may be tagged as financially incapable upon presenting certification from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, exempting them from premium payments.
Importance of Registration for Yakap Program Access
Meanwhile, Dr. Maria Eliza A. Batucan, chief of the Health Care Delivery Management Division, reiterated that registration is crucial to access services under the Yakap or Yaman ng Kalusugan Program, which now includes medicines and cancer screening. She reported that Central Visayas currently has around 274 Yakap clinic providers across Cebu, Bohol, Negros, and Siquijor, with more facilities 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. She added that Yakap clinics offer consultations and 13 laboratory tests, including complete blood count, creatinine, chest X-ray, and HbA1c, commonly used for outpatient cases like cough, colds, asthma, and gastrointestinal illnesses.
Medication Access and Expansion Efforts
Patients may also access 21 essential medicines at Yakap clinics for common conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and fever. For drugs not available on site, Batucan said members may obtain them through accredited pharmacies under the Gamot program, which currently covers 54 medications. As of now, there are 64 accredited Gamot providers in Central Visayas, five each in Negros and Bohol, with the majority located in Cebu while expansion efforts continue in Siquijor.
Health officials stressed that proper registration ensures Filipinos can maximize their healthcare benefits, from preventive screening to medicines and financial protection, underscoring the importance of this step in achieving the goals of the Universal Health Care Law.
