PhilHealth – FilipiKnow

Nobody is immune to sickness. Therefore, you need health insurance to pay for your hospital expenses when the unexpected happens. But what if you’re still a young, unemployed student? Should you just let your parents carry the financial burden of your hospitalization? Fortunately, you don’t have to. PhilHealth is the government’s health insurance provider that gives everyone access to affordable health care. Let us guide you on becoming a PhilHealth member and the requirements for students like you. Related: How to Compute PhilHealth Contribution: A Complete Guide to Contribution Table and Payment At a Glance: Recent Updates Related to PhilHealth Membership for Students The compulsory medical insurance policy for face-to-face classes of college students has been lifted 1. As long as you’re fully vaccinated, you may now attend physical classes even if you’re not a PhilHealth member or have no private medical insurance yet. Can Students Apply for PhilHealth? Yes. PhilHealth benefits are accessible to everyone, including students. All Filipinos are automatically entitled to PhilHealth benefits by virtue of the Universal Health Care Law. However, you must register to avail them 2. The contributions of PhilHealth-registered students depend on their age and employment status. Students below 21 years old don’t have to pay contributions, provided they’re added as one of their parents’ dependents. Once they reach their 21st birthday, students can register as formally employed or voluntary members and start paying the minimum monthly premium. If the students are already 21 years old but still can’t afford the monthly PhilHealth contribution, they can apply as indigent members so they can still avail of the benefits until they’re able to land a job. For a more detailed discussion, please read the subsequent sections. For Students Below 21 Years Old Students below 21 years old can become a PhilHealth member and enjoy its benefits without additional premiums. However, they shall be classified as dependent members3. Stepchildren and legitimated children are also qualified as dependent members4, provided they’re still unemployed and unmarried. For acknowledged and illegitimate adopted children, their status must be reflected in their birth certificates. Dependent members are individuals whose contributions are being paid for by eligible/principal members (e.g., all Filipinos 21 years old and above with the capacity to pay5) and are declared as such by the principal member in their updated Member’s Data Record (MDR). The dependents shall receive separate coverage for up to 45 days per calendar year, but the allowance shall be shared among them. PhilHealth Requirements for Students Below 21 Years Old To register, the principal member must go to the PhilHealth office and submit his/her PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF) along with the following requirements to declare the student as one of the dependents: Table 1. Summary of supporting requirements6 (These are to be attached with PMRF) DECLARATION OF DEPENDENTSREQUIREMENTSStudents (legitimate or illegitimate) below 21 years old. Any of the following:> Birth certificate; OR> Any valid IDs/ documents in Table 2 (1.2 and 2)Note: If submitting a birth certificate, the registry number must be reflected.If submitting a baptismal certificate, the name of the member-parent must be reflected. Students below 21 years old who are adoptedCourt Decree/ resolution of adoption; ANDAny of the following:> Birth Certificate of the adopted child; OR> Any two (2) valid IDs/documents in Table 2: a. One from 1.2 AND b. One from 2 Students below 21 years old who are stepchildrenMarriage Certificate (with registry number) between natural parent and stepmother/stepfather; AND Any of the following:> Birth Certificate of the adopted child; OR> Any two (2) valid IDs/ documents in Table 2:a. One from 1.2 ANDb. One from 2 Table 2. List of other Valid Identification Cards and Documents Acknowledged by PhilHealth PURPOSEREQUIREMENTS1. Proof of Identity 1.1 For 18 yrs. old and abovea. Baptismal Certificateb. GSIS/SSS Member's IDc. Passportd. Driver's Licensee. PRC IDf. NBI Clearance g. Police Clearance h. Voter's IDi. Postal IDj. Senior Citizen's Cardk. OWWA IDl. OFW IDm. Alien Certification of Registration/Immigrant Certification of Registrationn. Identification Cards Issued by Recognized Government Institutions/Agencies/Corporationso. Certificate from the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP)p. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or Local Social Welfare Development Officer (LSWDO) Certificationq. Integrated Bar of the Philippines Identification Cardr. Company IDs issued by private entities or institutions registered with or supervised or regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or Insurance Commission (IC)s. Barangay Certification, subject for validationt. Affidavit from two (2) Disinterested Persons, subject to validation1.2 For minors below 18 yrs olda. Certificate of live birth (newborns)b. Baptismal Certificatec. School IDd. Passporte. Police Clearancef. Alien Certification of Registration/Immigrant Certification of Registrationg. Certificate from the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP)h. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or Local Social Welfare Development Officer (LSWDO) Certificationi. Integrated Bar of the Philippines Identification Cardj. Barangay Certification, subject for validationk. Affidavit from two (2) Disinterested Persons, subject to validation2. Proof of Relationshipa. Certificate of live birth ( for newborns)b. Baptismal Certificatec. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or Local Social Welfare Development Officer (LSWDO) Certificationd. Barangay Certification, subject for validatione. Affidavit from two (2) Disinterested Persons, subject to validation Note that students 21 years old and above but with physical or mental disabilities are eligible as dependents of PhilHealth members7. Together with the PMRF, they need to submit a birth certificate and an original copy of a medical certificate issued within the last six months indicating the person’s disability. For Students 21 Years Old and Above Students 21 years old and above are no longer qualified to be their parents’ dependents unless he/she has physical/mental congenital disability as determined by PhilHealth. Therefore, they are already required to register either as an employee/formal economy member (if already employed) or voluntary/informal economy member (if unemployed but can afford to pay the monthly contributions). Therefore, they are already required to register either as an employee/formal economy member (if already employed) or voluntary/informal economy member (if unemployed but can afford to pay the monthly contributions). To register with PhilHealth, follow the instructions in this article. If you want to know how much PhilHealth contributions you need to pay monthly as a new member, please refer to this guide. Are you at least 21 years old, jobless, and don't have the means to pay even the minimum monthly contribution? No problem. You can still avail of PhilHealth benefits as an indigent member8. Here are the PhilHealth requirements for students that are qualified as indigent members: Certification from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) or the medical social worker in the hospital. This certification will attest that you belong to the poorest of the poor under the National Household Targeting System (NHTS). Barangay clearanceBirth certificateMarriage certificate (if married) Students will stay under this indigent category until they can get a job and afford the monthly PhilHealth premium. Frequently Asked Questions: 1. How much is the PhilHealth premium for students? The current PhilHealth premium for regular members is PHP 400 (4% premium rate)9 . For the latest PhilHealth contribution rate, please refer to this article. If you’re an employed student who is at least 21 years old, you need to pay this amount monthly. 2. Is PhilHealth registration free for students? Yes, you don’t have to shell out money upon your PhilHealth registration. In case you’re not a dependent or indigent member, the only amount you have to pay is the monthly premium. References