PhilHealth Now Available for Foreign Retirees

The Philippine Health Insurance, Inc. (Philhealth) and the Philippine Retirement Association (PRA) jointly announced that foreign retirees and former Filipino citizens staying in the Philippines can now be covered by Philhealth under its Informal Economy Program.

The two agencies’ leaders Philhealth President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alexander A. Padilla and PRA General Manager and CEO Valentino L. Cabansag formally signed the Memorandum of Agreement sealing the partnership recently at the PRA office in Makati.

 

<<Photo: PRA and Philhealth shaking hands: Alexander A. Padilla of Philhealth and Valentino L. Cabansag of PRA shake hands to formally seal the deal on the Philhealth coverage for PRA retirees in the Philippines>>

 

Under the program, all PRA members will receive the same Philhealth health coverage being enjoyed by Filipinos who need hospitalization and medical care in any hospital in the Philippines nationwide.  Coverage includes consultation and confinement, covers all kinds of diseases and with no pre-existing conditions. The program takes effect starting January 01, 2016.

To qualify, foreign retirees should enroll their Philhealth membership through the PRA which is tasked to process the applications. Annual premium is at PHP15,000 a year per individual and member has the option of enrolling his whole family.

The launch of the partnership was met with enthusiasm by PRA retirees, who all enthused it’s about time that the growing PRA community—including a big number of Japanese retirees—also enjoy health benefits being accorded to local citizens.

 

Story and photo by Melanie Suzon