Malacañang announced on Friday that students who will participate in the conduct of limited face-to-face classes must register with PhilHealth or with equivalent medical insurance covering medical expenses related to COVID-19.
According to PhilHealth vice president for corporate affairs Dr. Shirley Domingo, students who are less than 21 years can still be a dependent to their parents, therefore, the legal guardians must update or register their dependent.
On the other hand, students who are 21 years old and above must have their own PhilHealth membership. Technically, all Filipinos are already a member of PhilHealth which conforms the Universal Healthcare Law and they just need to register with PhilHealth.
Read: How to get PhilHealth MDR Online
“We’re asking them to register, and since student naman sila wala pa silang earnings ay ita-tag naman sila as financially incapable. Humingi lang sila ng certification from the (local government units) that they are financially incapable. So, they don’t have to pay the premiums. Basta magpa-register lang po sila," Domingo explained.
Domingo also mentioned that copy of PhilHeath registration form is available online. They just have to fill to fill up the form and submit it to the nearest PhilHealth branch. She also added that fortunate students can get a membership from private health insurance company or HMOs.
“If nakaka-afford sila, then they get a private HMO. Pero sa PhilHealth po ay member na po sila. Mag-register lang po sila,” she clarified.
Members who need to be isolated because of COVID-19 will receive benefits from PhilHealth depending on the severity of the case.
COVID-19 patients with mild cases can get P43, 000 while patients who fall under the severe cases will get P786, 000.
Moreover, acting Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Kristian Ablan referenced Resolution 164 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in his briefing, which mandates that students returning to in-person classes have medical insurance coverage.
"HEIs (higher education institutions) shall ensure that students who will participate in the conduct of limited face-to-face classes are registered with PhilHealth or with equivalent medical insurance which covers medical expenses related to COVID-19, as either direct or indirect contributor," a part of the resolution specify.
The resolution used section H of the Commission on Education and the Department of Health's joint memorandum circular no. 2021-004, which outlined criteria for the introduction of restricted face-to-face classes in all higher education programs.
In classrooms with an Alert Level 1 status, 100 percent seating capacity is now permitted which allows fully vaccinated teaching and non-teaching personnel as well as students to enter the premises.
Schools are free to choose appropriate learning modalities as long as flexible learning is maintained under certain conditions. They can also use a self-assessment checklist to determine their ability to self-reopen and seek technical assistance from their designated localities including the local IATF, and CHED.
"In case of a violation of this provision and it is shown that a student gets infected by COVID-19 brought about by his or her participation in the limited face-to-face classes, the HEI shall facilitate the necessary medical treatment/procedures for the affected student/s," the provision noted.
For the copy of PhilHealth registration form, you may download through this link
Source: ABS-CBN News, CNN Philippines
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