PhilHealth for Senior Citizens: What You Need to Know
A great inevitability of life is that our body tends to be more prone to diseases and health risks as we age. Various medical institutions tend to emphasize this fact, and it is a main selling point among many health insurance companies. For this reason, senior citizens are encouraged to be more responsible for their health. They are advised to take better care of themselves by performing exercises appropriate to their condition, having regular checkups, and minding what they eat. Unfortunately, senior citizens are often deterred by exorbitant medical fees and expensive hospital costs, considering that most of them are relying on their pensions and retirement funds. However, this does not always have to be the case—especially in the Philippines. Should there be any need for medical checkups, hospital confinement, and other healthcare needs, seniors can take advantage of their PhilHealth benefits. While most seniors are aware of the standard twenty percent discount in hospitals, there may be benefits that they are uninformed about. So, as a senior citizen of the Philippines who regularly made contributions to PhilHealth while employed, what benefits do you have? And how can you process your claims? To find out, read below: PHILHEALTH BENEFITS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS a.) Inpatient Benefits PhilHealth’s inpatient benefits allow a certain amount to be deducted from the total of a senior citizen’s total private hospital bill. Hospital bills typically include hospital charges and the doctor’s fees, and the amount to be deducted (which varies on a case-to-case basis) depends on the patient’s condition or disease. b.) Outpatient Benefits Senior citizens are also entitled to outpatient benefits which include hemodialysis sessions, radiotherapy sessions, and outpatient blood transfusions, which senior citizens suffering from cancer or kidney ailments can take advantage of. Apart from all these, senior citizens are also entitled to TB-DOTS Package, which is worth Php4000, Animal Bite Package, worth three thousand pesos, and the cataract extraction package, which is worth Php16,000. Lastly, elderlies may also avail of the primary care benefits 1, otherwise known as the TSeKaP (Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya). c.) TSeKaP (Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya) Benefits TSekaP Benefits is a program that includes preventive befits such as regular BP measurements, smoking cessation counseling, digital rectal examinations, and lifestyle modification counseling. Other diagnostic medical examinations such as urinalysis, chest x-ray, fecalysis, fasting blood sugar, lipid profiling, and sputum microscopy. d.) No-Balance Billing Policy Senior citizens confined in accredited public hospitals will be able to avail of the No-Balance Billing Policy (NBBP). This means that senior citizens in public hospitals no longer need to pay anything upon discharge. However, this is subject to some rules and is typically done on a case-to-case basis. e.) DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course) Senior patients who require first-line drugs or anti-retroviral treatment for any HIV/AIDS-related diseases may avail of the DOTS package. The package includes diagnostic exams, consultation, and prescription medicines provided that seniors visit a PhilHealth-accredited DOTS center in their vicinity. f.) Z Benefits Package Senior citizens who are diagnosed with diseases that are medically and economically catastrophic need not worry. While these diseases require senior citizens to undergo long-term and expensive treatments, they can make use of their PhilHealth benefits. With PhilHealth’s assistance, the potential financial blow will not be as exorbitant as it would be without the coverage. Diseases that are covered under the Z package are: Early stages of breast cancer Standard risk for coronary bypass graft surgery Early stage of cervical cancer Prostate cancer with low to intermediate risks Acute lymphocytic/Lymphoblastic Leukemia with standard risks Z morph external lower limb prosthesis: Initial prosthesis from knee down (left, right, or both) Total Hip Prosthesis, cementless Kidney Transplantation for End-Stage Renal Diseases (Low Risk) Partial Hip Prosthesis (bipolar) Implants for Hip Replacement: Total Hip Prosthesis cemented Implants for Fractures around the Hip (Multiple Screw Fixation) Compression Hip Screw Set Femoral Shaft Fractures (Intramedullary Nail with Interlocking Screws) Proximal Femoral Locked Plate Locked Compression Plate (LCP: Broad/Metaphyseal/Distal Femoral) HOW SENIOR CITIZENS BECOME PHILHEALTH MEMBERS 1.) Lifetime Members People aged 60 and above or retired senior citizens who paid no less than 120 months of contributions are lifetime members. Also, it is worth noting that lifetime members get a free lifetime coverage premium. This means that there is no longer a minimum payment requirement for them to claim their benefits. 2.) Automatic Members With the Expanded Senior Act or RA 10645, all senior citizens who are aged sixty and above are considered PhilHealth members automatically—even if they did not pay for monthly contributions. These non-paying senior citizens also get a free lifetime coverage premium like any lifetime member. BOTTOMLINE As a senior citizen, availing of PhilHealth benefits can be a huge help to defray medical costs and lessen pecuniary burdens—especially in times of prolonged hospitalization. That said, one of the best courses of action to take is to research the various aspects of your medical needs and how government institutions can aid you.
Perks of Being A Senior in The Philippines: Senior Citizen Benefits to Take Advantage Of
Turning sixty is quite a significant event in many Filipinos’ lives. For many, it is a time for celebration—an event that opens doors to many perks and opportunities. For others, it is a time of dread, and for most, it is a time of relaxation. Considered as one of the most awaited milestones in life, reaching the age of sixty in the Philippines means that you get the opportunity to retire from work and spend more time with the people you love. Indeed, many may even say that it is so much more fun to be a senior citizen in this country. And why is this? Well, for starters is that the government offers senior citizens various discounts and benefits that will aid elderly Filipinos manage their finances better in their retirement years. In a sense, it is a way of giving back to the elderlies who have served and worked throughout their adult years, and allows them to enjoy their retirement years without so much of a worry. REPUBLIC ACT 9994 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010) Under this law, Filipino citizens who are sixty years old and above are considered seniors. This law also provides additional benefits and privileges to senior citizens. Succinctly put, Republic Act 9994 is the governing law that implements all the guidelines and rules in availing of senior citizen benefits and discounts. It is also the same law that designed and legalized the implementation of the senior citizen ID. Today, the senior citizen ID card is the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) ID card is the only one that is recognized. Some seniors may be under the impression that any form of identification card that shows they are old enough may be used to avail of senior citizen benefits of discounts. However, this is a common misconception. The Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs is the only legitimate body mandated by law that can issue an identification card or document that proves an individual’s entitlement to senior citizen discounts and benefits. There is no need to pay a fee to avail of a senior citizen card as it is free. SENIOR CITIZEN BENEFITS 1.) Health or medical-related privileges a.) Senior citizens are entitled to a twenty percent discount and VAT exemption on the purchases of generic or brand medicines and drugs. When Executive Order No. 1044 took effect, a further 50% reduction in the prices of medicines for top chronic diseases (diabetes, chronic kidney disease, asthma/chronic pulmonary disease, cancer, and hypertension) was implemented. The passage of this law means that senior citizens can enjoy an additional fifty percent discount on top of the twenty percent discount they already enjoy. b.) Senior citizens are also given the privilege of free services in all service wards of government hospitals, medical facilities, home health care clinics, and outpatient clinics. c.) Before Republic Act 9994 was passed, only indigent senior citizens were entitled to PhilHealth coverage. However, with the law’s passage, all senior citizens, regardless of status in life, are covered by PhilHealth’s health insurance program. 2.) Transportation privileges Senior citizens are entitled to a twenty percent discount and VAT exemption on domestic air and sea travel, including booking. Apart from that, they are also entitled to a twenty percent discount on food and drinks, medicines, services, and recreation inside the ship. Senior citizens also get their own special lane which shall give them a priority. In case no check-in counter is available for them, they should be given priority handling and processing. The same applies to public railways such as MRT, LRT, and PNR and public utility vehicles (buses, jeepneys, taxis, and shuttle services) Additionally, senior citizens are exempt from payment of passenger terminal fees in airports and seaports. 3.) Travel, entertainment, and recreation Senior citizens are entitled to a twenty percent discount and VAT exemption on room accommodations and other amenities in hotels and resorts or any other similar establishments. They are also entitled to the same discount in restaurants, and when orders are made via delivery, discounts can be applied, provided that the senior citizen card number is provided while making the order. Moreover, the senior citizen ID card should also be presented upon delivery to verify the senior citizen’s identity. 4.) Utility discounts Senior citizens can avail of a five percent discount on the monthly utilization of electricity and water. However, meters for water and electricity should be registered in the name of the senior citizen residing therein to avail of the discount. Moreover, monthly consumption should not exceed one hundred kilowatts per hour and thirty cubic meters of water. For senior citizens living in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)- accredited senior citizen centers and residential care institutions or group homes, senior citizens are entitled to a fifty percent discount on all electricity, water, and telephone consumption. 5.) Taxation Senior citizens are exempted from the payment of Value Added Tax on any purchase of goods and services discussed in the Republic Act. They are also exempted from paying individual income tax if they are minimum wage earners.
Senior Citizen Discounts: Are You Taking Full Advantage of Your Benefits?
One of the best things to look forward to when you hit sixty is the myriad of benefits and discounts you can enjoy as a senior citizen in the Philippines. For many individuals, it is, indeed, more fun to be a senior citizen here—and even more so in recent years. The Department of Labor and Employee (DOLE) recently put out a mandate on strengthening the programs that provide benefits to elderly Filipinos. If you are a senior citizen or are tasted to take care of a senior member of your family, you should be aware of the various benefits and discounts you or they are entitled to. That said, you need to equip yourself with information that will enable you to assert your rights under the law or render proper care to your older relatives while ensuring they are enjoying the full benefit of the law. More importantly, if you are not a senior citizen yet, this article will aid you in preparing for the future when you reach your senior years. So, start familiarizing yourself with senior citizen privileges while you are still young and able so that when the time comes that it is your turn, you will not be ignorant of what you are entitled to. WHEN DO YOU BECOME A SENIOR CITIZEN IN THE PHILIPPINES? Based on the Republic Act of 9994, which is also commonly known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, Filipinos are considered senior citizens when they reach sixty years old. Under this Republic Act, all Filipino residents aged sixty years or older are automatically entitled to senior citizen benefits and privileges as afforded by the law. It is also worth noting that this law extends to dual citizens who have resided in the Philippines for at least six months. WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS BENEFITS A SENIOR CITIZEN CAN AVAIL OF IN THE PHILIPPINES? Under the Republic Act (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010), senior citizens in the Philippines are entitled to these benefits in the Philippines: a.) Retirement Benefits from SSS, GSIS, and PAG-IBIG b.) Discounts in special programs for senior citizens c.) Express lanes for senior citizens in all commercial establishments and government offices d.) Free flu and pneumococcal vaccinations for indigent senior citizens, e.) Training Fee exemptions on social and economic programs f.) Scholarship and financial assistance for senior’s education in public and private schools. g.) Free medical and dental services in government facilities h.) Income tax exemption for minimum wage earners MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS Under Republic Act 9994, senior citizens were afforded PhilHealth benefits. However, this was further strengthened by Republic Act 10645, which was enacted in 2014 and provided mandatory PhilHealth coverage to anyone above sixty years old. Essentially, this coverage is provided in addition to the 20% discount and VAT exemption every senior citizen is entitled to. CASH BENEFITS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS Cash benefits are also given to senior citizens in the Philippines. Under Republic Act No. 10868, which is also known as the Centenarians Act of 2016, seniors who reach the age of a hundred years old will receive a cash incentive of Php100,000. Apart from this centenarian incentive, indigent elderlies below the poverty allowance can also receive a monthly stipend of Php500, which is a subsidy program by the DSWD. COMMUTING BENEFITS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS Senior citizens in the Philippines get to enjoy queueing priority. This means that elderlies have special lanes in supermarkets, drug stores, fast food restaurants, banks, LRT, and MRT stations. Establishments without senior citizen lanes are required to prioritize elderly clients under Republic Act 9994. DEATH BENEFITS OF SENIOR CITIZENS Families of deceased senior citizens can claim a twenty percent discount on funeral and burial services. Death benefit extends to hospital morgues, caskets or urns, embalming, and cremation services. If the deceased senior citizen was a member of the SSS, their family could claim an SSS death benefit provided that the deceased paid at least 36 months of contribution before the semester of their death. WHERE CAN YOU AVAIL OF SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNTS IN THE PHILIPPINES? Under the Republic Act, elderly Filipinos aged sixty and above are entitled to a twenty percent discount and are exempted from paying value-added tax on applicable goods and services for their use exclusively. They can take advantage of these privileges using both cash and credit card payments. Below is a list of where they can avail of senior citizen discounts: Medicines- Senior citizens can enjoy a discount on generic and branded medicines, vitamins, and mineral supplements (with a doctor’s prescription) Medical Supplies and Equipment- Hearing aids, wheelchairs, dentures, crutches, etc. Domestic air and sea travel fares Public land transportation fares Professional fees of licensed health workers and attending physicians Hotels and resorts Medical and dental services in private facilities (Lab tests such as X-rays, blood tests, etc.) Restaurants Recreation centers Places of leisure (cinemas, theaters, concert halls, parks, museums, etc.) Funeral and burial services for deceased senior citizens