PhilHealth Dependent-Child
PhilHealth entitles dependent-child, from infancy up to adolescence or even during one’s lifetime–to enjoy PhilHealth benefits.
Dependent child refers to unmarried and unemployed whether legitimate, legitimated, acknowledged and illegitimate as appearing in the birth certificate, and legally adopted or stepchild.
For one to become dependent, member must declare one’s child in his/her application for membership through submission of member registration form or member amendment form, whichever is applicable. Proper documents must also be presented and submitted to support the validity on one’s dependency. One of which is the Birth Certificate, a primary record needed to attest the relationship or filiations of the member to the declared dependent. PhilHealth deems that this document be duly registered, as provided for by the law. In the case where illegitimate child is recognized by the father as evidenced by the latter’s acknowledgement in the child’s Birth Certificate or subscribed a written instrument acknowledging the child, suffice the requirement for inclusion as dependent. Additionally, for adopted child to be dependent must be legally decreed by the court under Special Civil Action, no other documents issued by the social welfare office shall qualify one’s dependency. Declared dependent-children are then manifested in the Member Data Record (MDR).
However, the state of being eligible as dependent ceases when the child reaches the age of 21 except if subject child is suffering from congenial disability, either physical or mental, or any disability acquired that renders him/her totally dependent on the member for support. Unqualified child should be enrolled under Individually Paying Program at P100 pesos monthly premiums.
PhilHealth advises its members to be prudent during registration of the child’s name before the civil registrar. Parents must ensure proper, correct and complete information of their personal circumstances. Negligence of which, may result to inconsistencies in the data that will later affect the child’s primary record, worst deprives him/her of automatic availment of PhilHealth benefits. (Larry T. Tabsing)