Pnoy's SONA: 81% of Filipinos already covered by PhilHealth
2013-Jul-22 18:48
2025-Jan-11 22:34
President Benigno S. Aquino III announced that universal healthcare coverage for all Filipinos is now becoming a reality.
During his State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the BAtasan complex on Monday, the President said that 81% of Filipinos are already covered by PhilHealth compared to 62% when he took office in 2010.
"We are coordinating with the LGUs for all Filipinos be covered by PhilHealth", he said in his address.
Last June, President Aquino signed Republic Act 10606 known as the National Health Care Act of 2013 providing mandatory universal healthcare coverage to all Filipinos, especially the poorest of the poor, from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
PhilHealth seeks to provide comprehensive health care services to all Filipinos through a socialized health insurance program that will prioritize the health care needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, persons with disabilities (PWDs), women and children and provide free health care services to indigents.
The law, signed last June 19 by the President, mandates the national government to entirely subsidize the PhilHealth contributions of indigent enrollees and abandoned children.
Market vendors, drivers, small construction workers, and others in the informal sector, may also be subsidized by the national government or the local government. It also expands the benefits of PhilHealth members to include preventive health care services as well as provides financial aid to health care providers. Parents who are above 60 years old whose monthly income is below the amount determined by PhilHealth can also qualify as dependents.
It shall be compulsory in all provinces, cities and municipalities, notwithstanding the existing health insurance programs of local government units.
Funds for the government's health program come from the sin taxes on tobacco and alcohol products. (PNA)