Solo Parents and their Dependents Can Now Avail Free PhilHealth Coverage

Here's something to look forward to by solo parents out there- they are now covered under Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and are entitled to free PhilHealth coverage.

This scheme that will benefits solo parents and their registered dependents conforms the previously implemented Republic Act No. 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, which amended the RA 8972 or the Solo Parents' Welfare Act of 2000.

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PhilHelath issued the scheme in its Circular 2024-0020 where it reiterated that solo parents- working and non-working father's and mothers and their children are automatically covered under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).

Camarines Rep. LRay Villafuerte, is the lead author of RA 11861, allowing a coverage and benefits expansion for single parents and their families.

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Enrolling Solo Parents

Under the scheme, all solo parents shall be enrolled as principal members under the "indirect contributor" membership type with "solo parent" as subtype in order to avail the benefits.

To proceed with their application, solo parents will have to acquire a revised PhilHealth membership registration form for the corresponding membership type and subtype.

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Who Qualified as Solo Parents?

The law specified the scope and delimitations of being a solo parent which include:

• gave birth due to rape, even without final conviction;
• have a dead spouse;
• have a spouse who's detained for at least three months;
• have a spouse with physical or mental incapacity;
• have been legally separated or underwent de facto separation for at least six months;
• have declared nullity or annulment of marriage;
• have been abandoned by the spouse for at least six months;
• have a spouse who's an overseas Filipino worker in the low or semi-skilled category for 12 months straight;
• serve as a guardian of an OFW's child/children;
• are unmarried;
• are legal guardians, adoptive, or foster parents;
• are relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity of the child's parent or legal guardian who died or disappeared for at least six months; and
• are pregnant.

As per the circular released, only those with valid solo parent identification card (SPIC) shall be able to avail the free PhilHealth coverage

Those who do not have are advised to secure their SPIC from the solo parents' office/solo parents division of their concerned local government unit, hence, updating their membership record to PhilHealth.

Source: PhilStar Life 

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