Almost every person in the world who mostly pays for hospitalization bills from out of his/her pocket knows that health should be a priority in life.
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Illnesses and accidents are not picky. These can happen to anyone. And the damages, not only to the state of the person but also to the financial status and the well-being of the whole family, should be minimized. Hence, some governments look for ways to help the people it governs manage their health and wellness.
Especially for a country like the Philippines, the home of one of the most hygienic people in the world, people hate getting into accidents, being afflicted with diseases, or losing someone to year-long battles. It's just too costly --- physically and mentally. Although unwanted circumstances like accidents and deaths bring Filipino families together, these are just not the way Pinoys would want to be reunited with their loved ones.
The Philippine government has steadily sustained its health programs that aim to cover everyone and not just the poor. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, PhilHealth, is a tax-exempt government-owned and and government-controlled corporation (GOCC) which was tasked to provide a national health insurance program for all. The presence of PhilHealth clearly defines the notion that the healthy is capable of paying for the sick and the wealthy, the fortunate can subsidize those who can't, as well as all contributors are assured a healthcare safety net.
The PhilHealth categorizes contributors into different groups, namely formal (employed), indigent , retiree, non-formal, and OFW. Except for outpatient primary care which only applies to indigents and OFWs, all beneficiaries can avail of the following services at lower (subsidized) fees: catastrophic coverage, inpatient care, catastrophic coverage, ambulatory surgeries, outpatient treatment for malaria and tuberculosis, and maternal deliveries. Please visit the PhilHealth website for a complete list of the healthcare benefits.
This 2016, PhilHealth released its table of premium contributions (seen below) which serves as the basis of all PhilHealth contributions of the employed, self-employed, OFWs, sponsored, and individual paying members.
Image ScreenCap: PhilHealth
For those who are employed, 50% of the contribution, which depend on their salary bracket, will come from their employer. There are 28 salary brackets (ranging from a monthly salary of 8,999.99 Php or lower, to a highly 35,000 Php) in the PhilHealth contribution table, each with a different premium to be paid.
Based on the table of monthly premiums, "Kasambahay" or household helps who receive a monthly salary of less than 5,000 Php will have their contributions fully shouldered by their employer.
For all land-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), they have the choice to pay their premium either annually (2,400 Php) or semi-annually (1,200 Php).
For all self-employed and individually paying members who have monthly income of P25,000 and below, they will pay an annual premium of 2,400 Php. Meanwhile, those who earn more than P25,000 monthly will have to pay 3,600 Php per year. Payments can also be done semi-annually or quarterly.
Those under the Sponsored Program category, their annual premium of 2,400 Php will be partially or fully subsidized by their respective sponsors (could be an LGU, private entity, legislator or a national government agency).
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