All indigents in Capiz have health insurance
ROXAS CITY – Capiz has already universally covered its target for the health insurance program.
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Provincial Head here Joe Frederick Diaz disclosed that Capiz province has already covered 68,790 families under its bottom 50 poor population target for this year.
Diaz said that the province here has already a health insurance universal coverage in 2008.
In fact, he said, Capiz Governor Victor Tanco was awarded in June 11,2009 a Plaque of Recognition by the PhilHealth for its efforts in universally covering the poorest population in Capiz.
Diaz said that the recognition was held during the joint PhilHealth and Governor’s forum in Manila which was attended by the Governor’s League of the Philippines.
As of August, Diaz said that they have a total of 161,765 health insurance members here, benefiting approximately 808,825 family members.
According to him, the sponsored program for the indigent families has enrolled 68,790 while 30,841 are individually paying members and 16,805 are employed in the government service.
On the other hand, their health insurance members in the private sector account to 32,731, while the non-paying or lifetime members and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are recorded at 3,242 and 9,356, respectively, Diaz said.
He also reiterated that health insurance program has been a big help by the government to the people, especially to the poor because they could access quality health care services in both government and private hospitals and centers.
Health, including universal health insurance coverage and cheaper medicines, has been one of the top priority programs of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In her State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July, the President revealed that 86 percent of the population in the Philippines is now enjoying Philhealth insurance coverage.
She also said that as part of its economic resiliency plan amidst the global economic crisis, the government is providing additional PhilHealth benefits for the universal health coverage particularly of the poorest sector. (PIA/Jemin B. Guillermo)