Senate OKs on 2nd reading mandatory PhilHealth coverage for PWDs

The Senate has approved on second reading the bill providing mandatory Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) coverage to persons with disabilities, a move welcomed by Senator Risa Hontiveros Wednesday.

Senate Bill No. 1391 provides that all persons with disability (PWDs) are automatically enrolled and covered under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).

"I am happy with this development. I laud the Senate's commitment to ensure that PWDs will be given better access to long-term medical care," Hontiveros, one of the bill's sponsors, said in a press statement.

She said differently-abled Filipinos have a greater likelihood of needing medical assistance.

"There are 1.4 million Filipinos with disability, comprising 1.53% of the country’s population, according to a 2010 census. The majority of PWDs are poor and cannot keep up with the rising costs of medical care," she said.

The measure will amend Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and mandate that the premium contributions of all PWDs will be paid by the national government, while the premium contributions of those employed in the formal economy will be shared by the employer and the national government. Premium payments will be sourced from sin tax collection.

“This will amplify the PWDs’ access to the country’s healthcare services. Persons with disability face many barriers in availing of the government's healthcare services. This bill, once enacted into law, will remove some of those barriers,” said Hontiveros. — MDM, GMA News