Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or PhilHealth has assured Overseas Filipino Workers or (OFWs) that they will make sure premium payments will be easier and faster.
PhilHealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales said they are now drafting an order in cooperation with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) making sure that premium payments will not be a “hassle” to OFWs.
“We will find a way to protect your OFW families and, at the same time, not to burden you before you leave,” Morales said.
The Universal Health Care Law requires all land-based OFWs to pay PhilHealth premiums before they can get their overseas employment certificate of OEC.
An OEC is a document issued by POEA to an OFW before being allowed to leave the country.
The PhilHealth chief said they are willing to discuss the new premium payment schemes.
They are also studying the possibility of OFWs paying their premiums while they are abroad.
PhilHealth said there are accredited agencies where OFWs can pay their premiums.
Satellite offices are also being eyed in the Middle East to accept payments because of the high concentration of OFWs in the region.
OFW groups slammed the new rules and regulations on the Universal Health Care Law. They say that requiring migrant workers to pay premiums before getting anj OEC would only lead to more Filipinos working illegally abroad. (TN)
