All Senior Citizens Now Covered by PhilHealth (R.A. 10645)

Senior citizens are now automatically members of the Philippine Health Insurance, Corp. (PhilHealth) after Pres. Benigno S. Aquino signed into law Republic Act No. 10645, which provides:

All senior citizens shall be covered by the national health insurance program of PhilHealth. Funds necessary to ensure the enrollment of all senior citizens not currently covered by any existing category shall be sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund of PhilHealth from proceeds of Republic Act No. 10351, in accordance with the pertinent laws and regulations. (Section 5, sub-paragraph h(2) of R.A. No. 7432, as amended by R.A. No. 7432 and further amended by R.A. 10645)

This new law amends R.A. 7432 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” by removing the requirement that a senior citizen has to be an indigent or poor before he/she could enjoy PhilHealth coverage.

For seniors to enjoy the benefits of this new law, all they need to do is to present a valid ID that proves their real age.

Photo credit: Dailymail.co.uk



Author: Atty. James Biron
Atty. James S. Biron is a corporate lawyer specializing in foreign investments, trade, mergers and acquisitions, planning and financing of projects and capital raising. Clients served include real estate, construction, energy, information technology, agriculture, education, medical and casino gaming companies.

39 Comments

  • Kristine

    Good Morning, Atty. We have an employee who is already 62 y/o, when should i stop deducting Philhealth contribution from his salary? Is it effective this November 2014? Thank you.

    • Atty. James Biron

      Kristine, the law will be effective 15 days from the day it was published in the newspaper of general circulation.

      • Kristine

        Yes. It was also stated that we should wait for a Philhealth circular, which I believe is not yet issued

        • Atty. James Biron

          Kristine, it is not provided in the R.A. 10645. Thus, it will be effective 15 days from the day it was published, irrespective of the presence or absence of a circular from PhilHealth.

  • jazzelle

    Gud pm …my mother is now already a philhealth member sub category senior citizen (RA 10645)….we just filed it yesterday.can we used it rightaway?if not when will it be effective…she badly needs to undergo cataract surgery so we need its benenfits A.S.A.P.tnx

  • francis

    good eve… is it true that a senior citizen is not qualified to have her own philhealth once she is a beneficiary of one of her children? thanks.

  • dear sir francis.

    Ang nanay at tatay ko po ay mga senior citizens na. may heart failure po at may deperensya sa baga ang tatay ko samantalang ang nanay ko nmn ay high blood, malaking gastos po sa maintenance nila ng gamot.
    Anu po ba ang covered nong batas, yong maintenance ng gamot at pag papaospital po ba ay libre lahat? wala na po silang babayaran? at paano e2 ma-avail, hnd po sila meyembro ng phil health.Ano at saang ospital po ba e2 pupuwede

    Marami pong salamat
    ruel

  • at isa pa po full reimbursement po ba kung sakaling magre reimburse ng gamot?

  • marj

    hello sir.na hospital po ung tita ko n senior citizen last november and december 2014.inutang po nmin ung pinambayad nmin sa hospital..pwede p b kmi mg file ng reimbursement s philhealth?

  • Celia M. Sta. Ana

    Dear Atty. Biron,

    How much would you charge if I want a lawyer client relationship established with you?

    What is your acceptance fee and your charge for advice given?

    I am writing this in relation to the many letters from lawyers due to credit card debts of my daughter and we need advice on how to handle the matter.

    Thank you,

    Celia M. Sta. Ana

  • eh d naman lahat sagot ng philhealth.. halos lahat gamot na resita ng papa ko pinabayaran.. pati laboratory test… kasi d covered ng philhealth….ang tanong… ano lang ba ang covered ng philhealth?

  • rjakesh

    Hi,
    Inquire ko lang po kung anong benefits ang pwede icover ng philhealth para sa father ko. Member category: Lifetime Member
    Sub category: Senior Citizen RA 10645
    Naka schedule po cya for left eye cataract and glaucoma surgery, same day surgery. Alam nyo po ba kung ilan percent covered ng philhealth for room and board, medication, professional fee and surgery?

    Thanks in advance.

  • Jonathan Zapanta

    Atty. my grandmother did undergone change of Pacemaker in Cardinal Santos. They only deducted senior discount. Are we still able to get reimbursement from Philhealth?

  • Marie C.

    hi Atty. need pa ba iinclude ng isang company sa updating ng dependents ang parents (60 y/o and above) ng employee or si philhealth na bahala dun? pag dependent ba na 60 y/o automatic magiging member na din?

  • Michelle

    Good eve , is it true that a senior citizen is not qualified to have her own philhealth once she is a beneficiary of one of her children? thanks.

  • Michelle

    Atty ,

    Yung father ko po nkaconfine ngaun , due to heart problem , gusto po nmen xa ipa member sa philhealth para ma avail yung benipisyo niya as senior citizen , how ever nung pmunta po kme mismo sa philhealth , ang sinabi po sken ng isang personel , is hindi dw po pd mg pa member tatay ko sa philhealth kc dependent ko po xa , at hindi dw po niya maavail yung sinasabi ng bagong batas sa republic act 10645, d po active yung paghulog ko sa philhealth sa ngaun kc unemployed na po ako, last ko po nagamit yung philhealt ko is january 28 2015. Gusto ko lang po mabigyan linaw kung ano po ba ang act 10645? Kpag ba dependent ng isa sa anak hindi na pd mg pa member ang isang senior citizen sa philhealth? Thank u

  • russell bautista

    good day po..

    tatanong ko lang po sana kung magkano ang macocover ng philhealth at senior ng lola ko kung mag papaopera po sya ng catarata niya..thanks po

  • aurelia junio

    evening po Atty. i be just filed my father’s philhealth membership last march 2015 at d age of 60. can my mom who is 59 be automatically be his dependent? is it also true that he will no longer pay a contribution? thank u po

  • Ivy

    Good morning Atty. Biron,
    Tanong ko lang po kung paano gamitin ang Philhealth sa aking karamdaman na hypertension . Uncontrollable po kasi sya at nagsimula po noong Marso 2015 at hanggang ngayon meron po akong maintenance na gamot. Dependent po ako ng aking asawa na isang OFW! Paano po ba ang covered ng Philhealth dito kung sakali. Pwede nyo po ba ako bigyan ng kasagutan sa aking tanong. Maraming salamat po at more powers!

  • gina mallari u.

    Hi,
    Inquire ko lang po kung anong benefits ang pwede icover ng philhealth para sa mother ko.
    Naka schedule po cya for right eye glaucoma laser. Alam nyo po ba kung ilan percent covered ng philhealth for professional fee and surgery? kung kukuha palang ng philhealth card in the same day pwede naba agad magamit?

    Thanks in advance.

  • Mary Grace C.

    My mom is 70 years old and not a philhealth member.Sabi po ng doctor nya need po nya operahan for cataract removal if hindi po maoperahan 6 months nlng po ang itatagal ng vision nya mabubulag daw po sya.If ever po ipamember ko po ung mama ko sa philhealth ilang percent po ung masasagot ng philhealth for the operation and kelan po magagamit ung benefits pag bagong member lang po.tahnk you

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