MIMAROPA

Palawan, Philhealth target 23,000 poor families

By Victoria Asuncion S. Mendoza

Wednesday 20th of June 2012

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, June 20 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Palawan and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) target 23,000 poor families for free health insurance under Philhealth’s sponsored component program.

Recently, Palawan Governor Baham Mitra signed the Memorandum of Agreement with Philhealth Regional Vice-President Paulo Johann C. Perez for a two-year lock-in period for the coverage of less privileged families not included in the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction.

“The signing of the MOA is advantageous for the provincial government because the premium to be paid per beneficiary is only P1,200 per annum and not the new premium of P2,400,” said Mr. Wilfred Hernandez, Chief of Philhealth in Palawan.

He said that apart from the 50 percent price-off, the beneficiaries will also be assured of health insurance for two years unlike in the previous years which provided only one year coverage.

In response to President Aquino’s universal health insurance coverage, the provincial government undertook the Philhealth para sa Masa program which has already provided one-year free insurance to about 40,000 marginalized families.

Beneficiaries of the Philhealth para sa Masa program of the provincial government can avail of primary care benefit package in their respective rural health units which would include primary preventive services, diagnostic examinations, free drugs and medicines.

A Philhealth ID holder can also avail of special benefit package in public hospitals and other accredited hospitals, birthing homes, and lying-in clinics. (VSM/PIA-Palawan)