Title
Mandatory PhilHealth coverage for seniors
Law
Philhealth Circular No. 033-2014
Decision Date
Dec 17, 2014
PhilHealth Circular No. 033-2014 mandates the enrollment of all senior citizens in the national health insurance program, ensuring their access to comprehensive healthcare benefits funded through the National Health Insurance Fund.
A

Objective

  • Provides implementing guidelines and procedures for covering senior citizens not yet enrolled under NHIP.

Definition of Terms

  • Senior Citizen: Filipino citizen aged 60 or above, including dual citizens with proof and 6 months residency.
  • Senior Citizen not currently covered: those without PhilHealth ID, insufficient contributions, or sponsorship.
  • OSCA: Local office led by a senior citizen for senior citizen affairs.
  • LHIO: PhilHealth office at provincial or city level for service delivery.

General Provisions

  • New membership category for senior citizens not covered under NHIP.
  • Qualified dependents who are senior citizens to be enrolled separately.
  • Senior citizens gainfully employed must contribute if income exceeds poverty threshold.

Enrollment

  • Primarily coordinated with OSCA or designated local offices.
  • OSCA maintains a quarterly updated list of senior citizens with detailed personal data.
  • List submitted electronically to LHIO with transmittal letter and printed copy.
  • PMRF forms to be submitted alongside list or individually if electronic submission not possible.
  • LHIOs to coordinate with DSWD and NGOs for enrollment coverage.
  • Senior citizens organizations may assist after orientation.
  • Direct enrollment possible; requires PMRF, recent photo, and proof of senior citizen status (ID or certificate).
  • Unauthorized representatives not permitted to enroll senior citizens.

Declaration of Qualified Dependents

  • Qualified dependents include legitimate spouse not enrolled, unmarried children under 21, disabled adult children fully dependent, and foster children under RA 10165.

Premium Contributions

  • Funded by proceeds of RA No. 10351 (Sin Tax Law).
  • PhilHealth bills DBM through DOH annually.
  • Premium rates not less than those for indigent members; subject to actuarial assessment.

Benefits and Entitlements

  • Senior Citizens and dependents entitled to inpatient care, outpatient services, Z-benefits for catastrophic cases, specific treatment packages (TB-DOTS, animal bite, malaria, HIV/AIDS), maternity and newborn care, and voluntary contraceptive procedures.
  • Benefits subject to annual review.
  • Dependent benefits valid until deceased member's coverage expires.

Benefit Availment

  • Must present PhilHealth ID or valid proof of senior citizen status.
  • Enrollment during or after confinement allowed if documents attached to claim.
  • Dependents require PhilHealth Benefit Eligibility Form and member data record or PMRF.
  • PhilHealth CARES staff to assist members in accredited hospitals.

Transitory Provisions

  • Senior citizens confined between November 25, 2014 and Circular effectivity with no prior automatic benefits have 60 days to file claims.
  • Required documents include PMRF, claim forms, clinical records, waiver forms, and other supporting documents.

Repealing Clause

  • Inconsistent previous PhilHealth issuances repealed or amended.

Effectivity

  • Circular effective fifteen days after publishing in two newspapers.
  • To be deposited with National Administrative Register at UP Law Center.

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