By Ma. Teresa Montemayor/ PNA
MANILA — With the recent enactment of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, all Filipinos now have immediate eligibility and access to preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care.
In a recent press briefing, PhilHealth acting president Roy Ferrer said UHC assures 100 percent population coverage and guarantees everyone outright entitlement to medical, dental, mental and emergency health services as long as conditions set forth by law are met.
Ferrer said PhilHealth’s membership categories have been simplified into two — the direct contributors and the indirect contributors.
“Iyon pong (These are the) direct contributors are those employed under an employer-employee relationship, self-earning individuals, professional practitioners, migrant workers and lifetime members. The indirect contributors are incapable of paying premiums and shall be subsidized by the government, these are our senior citizens and indigent by virtue of special laws,” he said.
Liset Taylo, 47, a PhilHealth member for more than 10 years, told Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the automatic membership of all Filipinos to PhilHealth would make things easier for those who need health benefits.
“Sa mga ma-oospital, malaking tulong iyon lalo na kung medyo kulang ang budget sa pagpapagamot (For those who’ll be hospitalized, it will be a big help especially if they have tight budget for medications),” she said.
