Cover more seniors, PhilHealth urged

SENIOR Citizen Party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to include more senior citizens as nonpaying members, citing the vulnerable condition of the elderly population.

"Scrapping the 45-day limit is a major regulatory constraint removed to improve access to PhilHealth benefits. But PhilHealth must make better strides in raising the figures of registered seniors and availability of the PhilHealth health care packages, especially those that prevent health crises and medical emergencies," Ordanes said.

He added that PhilHealth failed to maximize the use of the three-year subsidy from the national government amounting to P89 billion to fund the coverage of nonpaying members, including senior citizens.

"It is clear to me that when PhilHealth did not use the three years' worth of subsidy amounting to P89 billion, they failed to serve more nonpaying PhilHealth members and those who have not yet registered," Ordanes said.

"That P89 billion is not from members' contributions. It is from the national budget meant to extend and expand the reach of PhilHealth," he added.

Ordanes urged PhilHealth to roll out more proactive initiatives, including nationwide registration campaigns, community outreach programs and stronger coordination with local government units.