Question & AnswerQ&A (PHIC PHILHEALTH CIRCULAR NO. 23, S. 2004)
Legal dependents under Section 4(f) of Republic Act 7875 include parents who are sixty (60) years old or above and not an enrolled member.
The Circular includes adoptive and step-parents of members as legal dependents in the National Health Insurance Program.
A step-parent is any individual who automatically assumes such position vis-à-vis the biological child or children of his or her spouse, whose marriage is either extinguished by the death of the previous spouse or through annulment.
An adoptive parent is any individual who automatically assumes parental authority by operation of the legal adoption process.
A biological parent is any individual who has a direct genetic relationship with the child rather than by adoption or marriage.
Including adoptive and step-parents as legal dependents allows these individuals to be covered under the benefits and protections of the National Health Insurance Program, ensuring broader inclusion.
The Circular took effect immediately upon its adoption on September 15, 2004.
The legal basis is Section 4(f) of Republic Act 7875, as interpreted and expanded by the PHIC PhilHealth Circular No. 23, s. 2004, adopting a policy to include step and adoptive parents within the definition of legal dependents.
The definitions ensure clarity and effective implementation of the policy by distinguishing the positions and legal relationships of each type of parent in relation to the member and their dependents.