PhilHealth sets new payment mode for informal sector members

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 8 (PNA) -– The Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) has made premium payment more affordable to poor members in Eastern Visayas starting this quarter.

Banking on the Filipino’s tradition of retail buying, the PhilHealth regional office here has allowed a PHP200 premium payment on a monthly basis instead of paying PHP600 quarterly.

“It is an advantage for members in the informal economy since we love to buy products in retail or in smaller packs. They can just save PHP6 per day to ease their difficulty in paying for their health insurance,” said Rosario Suyom, chief of PhilHealth regional field operations division.

The system will mainly benefit migrant workers, market vendors, pedicab and tricycle drivers, construction workers, and self-earning individuals.

PhilHealth has 395,000 registered members in the informal sector in Eastern Visayas. Members can pay through the local health insurance offices in provinces, regional offices and PhilHealth express counters in malls.

Express outlets have been set up at Gaisano stores in Tacloban City and Sogod, Southern Leyte.

“The new mode of payment is an initiative of the government to provide quality health care to its constituents,” Suyom added.

The official reminded that members should have been regularly paying for at least six months prior to confinement to avail health insurance programs. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/Ana Rose D. Cinco (OJT)