MikeLigalig.com

by pna

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) recently signed a Collection and Remittance Agreement (CRA) with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) for the collection of premium contributions of Filipino workers overseas and migrant workers.

The LandBank, which has been a partner of PhilHealth for the past 14 years, will be collecting premium contributions abroad through its accredited remittance companies (RemCos) based in Europe, USA, Australia, Canada, Middle East, and throughout Asia.

The RemCos started collecting premium contributions last March 15, 2012 from Fiulipino workers overseas and migrant workers based in HongKong, Macau, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) through its foreign tie-ups namely, Pacific Ace Forex H.K., Macau Pacific Ace Remittance, Ltd., and Al Rajhi Bank in KSA.

When paying their PhilHealth premium, workers overseas need only to present their PhilHealth ID card or Overseas Employment Contract (OEC) as proof of identity to the RemCos’ authorized representative. They may use their host-country’s currency as payment for one or two years’ premium contributions, depending on the number of years specified in their OEC.

Migrant workers who want to sign up with PhilHealth need only to scan their accomplished PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF) and send it to PhilHealth Special Programs Department on any day of the week via electronic mail with the following addresses to [email protected] [email protected]

PhilHealth president and chief executive Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon said that the partnership was a big favor, not just for PhilHealth, but particularly for Filipino workers overseas members as well. >p>He also said said:“We are really trying to expand, among other things, our benefits, which will redound to the welfare of our members. We believe that we should be much more aggressive in ensuring that our OFW members continue to be eligible.”

He added that “we have been challenged, mandated by the President and Health Secretary (Enrique) Ona to prime universal health care. It’s a daunting task, difficult task. We believe it’s doable. But with partners like Land Bank, the more it becomes doable for us.”

On the other hand, Landbank president and chief executive Gilda Pico said that “we are very pleased with this arrangement with PhilHealth. We hope that this will pave the way for a more convenient collection and remittance system for PhilHealth contributions for our overseas Filipinos. We have always looked at the OFWs as our valuable partners in economic development.”

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