JUNE 6, 2014

NR # 3489

PhilHealth coverage for all senior citizens approved on 2nd reading

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill providing for the mandatory PhilHealth coverage for all senior citizens amending Republic Act 7432, as amended by Republic Act 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

The House Committee on Populations and Family Relations, chaired by Rep. (Lone District, ) endorsed, sponsored and defended House Bill 4593, a consolidation of House Bills 3175, 3342 and 4455, authored by Reps. Angelina Tan (4th District, ), Alfredo Vargas III (5th District, Quezon City) and Jerry Treñas (Lone District, City), respectively.

The measure is expected to be approved on third and final reading next week.

Treñas said RA 9994 limits PhilHealth coverage to indigent senior citizens only. “This bill aims to remedy this oversight by deleting the qualification of being an indigent in the concerned section of the law and by sourcing the funds to implement this program from the National Health Insurance Fund of PhilHealth,” Treñas said.

“This proposed measure mandates PhilHealth coverage for all senior citizens,” Treñas added.

Tan said the national policies contained in both the Constitution and the Senior Citizens Act clearly provide that all of the elderly shall be given preferential care and protection by the State.

“Being an indigent should not be a requisite for the senior citizens to avail of the mandatory free PhilHealth coverage,” Tan said.

“The measure will enable all our senior citizens to feel more secure during the remaining years of their lives because of the guarantee that they will have the access to medical and health services when need arises,” Tan stressed.

Co-authors are Reps. Lani Mercado-Revilla (2nd District, ), Mar-Len Abigail Binay (2nd District, Makati City), Elisa Kho (2nd District, ), Anthony del Rosario (1st District, ), Leah Paquiz (Party List, ANG NARS), Isidro Ungab (3rd District, Davao City), Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava (Lone District, ), Celso Lobregat (1st District, Zamboanga City), Mariano Piamonte, Jr. (Party List, A TEACHER), Romeo Acop (2nd District, Antipolo City), Nicasio Aliping, Jr. (Lone District, Baguio City), Cheryl Deloso_Montalla (2nd District, ), Evelina Escudero (1st District, ) , (3rd District, ), Edcel “Grex” Lagman (1st District, ), Edgardo Masongsong (Party List, 1 CARE), Pablo Nava III (Party List, APPEND), Marie Anne Pernes (Lone District, ), Eric Singson (2nd District, ), Estrellita Suansing (1st District, ), Jose Tejada (3rd District, North ), Pryde Henry Teves (3rd District, ), Randolph Ting(3rd District, ), Antonio Tinio (Party List, ACT TEACHERS) and Susan Yap (2nd District, ). (30) jsc