8.6M seniors to get health protection this year
MANILA -About 8.6 million senior citizens across the country are assured of health insurance this year as the Department of Budget and Management has approved the release of P42.93 billion to cover a year’s worth of premium payments.
The DBM said in a statement this was made possible through a Special Allotment Release Order and its corresponding Notice of Cash Allocation that are dated April 4.
“From the start, the directive of President Bongbong Marcos has been very clear— this government must ensure that our senior citizens have the support and resources they need to thrive,” DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
“The elderly will always remain vital members of our society who have spent many of their productive years not only in improving the lives of their family members but also in contributing to their communities,” Pangandaman said.
Under the General Appropriations Act of 2023, P79 billion is allocated to cover the payment of health insurance premiums of indirect contributors.
Such contributors include senior citizens who, under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, will be covered by the National Health Insurance Program of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
The DBM said that funds needed to ensure the enrollment of all senior citizens who are not currently covered would be sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund of PhilHealth.
