The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (or PhilHealth for short) is a government agency that makes quality healthcare affordable for many Filipinos. Fortunately, their coverage includes even those working abroad. So yes, even if you are an OFW, you and your family members can take full advantage of all its helpful benefits.
How can you do that? First, you have to sign-up as a member: Signing up as a member is very easy.
If you are still in the Philippines, all you have to do is to submit the following requirements on your nearby PhilHealth office:
- A filled-up copy and a duplicate of PhilHealth Member Registration Form
- Documents that prove beneficiaries declared are indeed your legal dependents
- Document proving you are an active OFW
- Premium contribution payment
If you are already out of the country, then you need to submit these instead:
- A filled-up copy of PhilHealth Premium Payment Slip (PPSS)
- A filled-up copy and a duplicate of PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF)
- Any of the following: baptismal certificate, birth certificate, POEA ECARD/SSS/company ID, passport, any valid ID.
- Premium contribution payment
Upon membership, you will now be entitled to PhilHealth benefits and services for an entire year.
Premium contributions are affordable.
OFW members only need to pay P2,400 per year (P1,200 for 6 months) to avail of PhilHealth benefits. If you have a longer employment contract, then you can choose to pay more.
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If you’re already out of the country, you can give your payments at a PhilHealth Overseas Accredited Payment Center. Another option is to ask family members to pay it in your behalf. This is always possible provided that you can present a valid ID, a letter of authorization, and a document proving that you are indeed working in a different country.
That way, you can still be updated with your payments even if you are working or living in a location far from accredited PhilHealth centers.