PHILHEALTH COVERAGE OF AFP PENSIONERS

             As part of the government’s objective of providing universal health coverage, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is gearing towards covering all sectors of the society in social health insurance. On October 24, 2011, the heads and key officers of the AFP and PhilHealth signed the Operational Guidelines on the PhilHealth Coverage of AFP Pensioners at the AFP Conference, GHQ, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

             The project ensures the continuous coverage of AFP Pensioners under  the Individually Paying Program of PhilHealth. For the convenience of would-be member pensioners, the monthly premium will be automatically deducted from their monthly pension. 

        The target pensioners for this program are those who optionally retired from the service below 56 years of age and beneficiaries who are not employed. It also covers those retired with CDD who are already 56 years of age but were not able to complete the minimum contributions of 120 months. In accordance with the policy of PhilHealth, compulsorily retired AFP personnel (those who reached the mandatory retirement age of 56) who have completed 120 months premium contribution are qualified as Lifetime Program member. They just need to fill up and submit the applicable registration form and requirements to any PhilHealth office.

             In order to avail of the program, interested AFP pensioners shall fill up the PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF) and authority to deduct (ATD) which are available at AFPPGMC and PhilHealth offices nationwide. They shall likewise attach the necessary documents such as the marriage contract (of the applicant) and birth certificates of children. Duly filled up PMRF, together with allied documents, shall be submitted to the nearest PhilHealth servicing offices nationwide.

            Once the application is validated and processed by PhilHealth, the monthly premium contribution amounting to P100.00 will be automatically deducted from the applicant’s monthly pension. This would prompt the entitlement of the pensioner to the same hospitalization benefits enjoyed by other members of the agency.