Getting the Fully Loaded PhilHealth Card with Privileges

It's all in the news. PhilHealth has recently launched its new PhilHealth card launched last September 5, 2011 at SM MOA. This card is packed with privileges in the form of discounts and other incentives offered by partner establishments. The new card known as the I-PhilHealthy Card is the first project under the Public Private Partnership Scheme that will be implemented by PhilHealth. Under this scheme, PhilHealth may engage in partnerships with private establishments or merchants which are interested in offering their services or providing product discounts and other incentives to PhilHealth members. Through this, PhilHealth members need not be confined, admitted or undergo surgery to avail PhilHealth benefits as they are able to avail the privileges offered by partner merchants.

Aside from the added value of the I-PhilHealthy Card, PhilHealth has also used this opportunity to facilitate and provide an easier means of enticing and getting new members into the program through the services of partner registration sites. With this, PhilHealth has enhanced public accessibility through the increase in the registration sites and collection windows towards the goal of universal coverage.

The PhilHealth ID Card and the I-PhilHealthy Card

The difference between the PhilHealth ID Card and the I-PhilHealthy Card is not only on the material used for the card. As shown in the illustrations of the card, the PhilHealth ID card can be considered a valid ID card due to the presence of the cardholder's picture not present in the I-PhilHealthy Card. The I-PhilHealthy Card is similar to the old card released by PhilHealth known as the PhilHealth Number Card (PNC) which only contains the PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN) and the name of the member. The I-PhilHealthy card is made up of PVC material, has a magnetic stripe and displays additional information such as the date of birth and sex of the cardholder.

Will the I-PhilHealthy Card replace the PhilHealth ID Card? The answer is no, PhilHealth will still be issuing the PhilHealth ID Card to its members who will request for it and both cards can be used in availing PhilHealth benefits. The I-PhilHealthy card is optional, meaning it is the choice of the member to obtain the card to avail the added value of being a PhilHealth member. Moreover, obtaining a PhilHealth ID Card is issued free of charge and applying for an I-PhilHealthy Card will have entail a minimal cost that will be borne by the member.

Who can avail of the I-PhilHealthy Card?

• Non-PhilHealth members. Individuals interested in becoming a PhilHealth member may obtain an I-PhilHealthy Card upon registration and a one (1) quarter payment of premium contribution. Employed individuals who have not yet been issued their PhilHealth number may also obtain the card through registration with PhilHealth;

• Existing members. Existing members (those who already have their PhilHealth numbers) in any category (private and government employees, OFWs, individually paying members, sponsored members and lifetime members) may obtain an I-PhilHealthy Card. Sponsored members should likewise apply for the card within the validity of their PhilHealth membership. Lifetime members shall be issued a "PhilHealth Gold Card" as provided by Unilab having the same privileges as that of the I-PhilHealthy Card.

• Dependents. All valid declared dependents may also obtain their own card. It should be noted that the available/offered privileges and discounts can only be enjoyed by the principal members, however, the dependent card can be presented to accredited health care facilities when availing PhilHealth benefits. A different material will be used for a dependent's I-PhilHealthy card which is somewhat similar to the material used in LRT and MRT cards.

Where to register/obtain the I-PhilHealthy Card?

• All SM outlets;
• All CIS Bayad Centers;
• Mobile and onsite registration through partnership with Prime IT Source.

The I-PhilHealthy Card is not available in any PhilHealth office, hence, you would need to go to any of the above registration sites.

As for mobile and onsite registration, members enrolled through this registration scheme will immediately be issued their corresponding I-PhilHealthy Card and members will be introduced to the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) through the Information and Education Campaign being conducted. You may coordinate with your local barangays for the schedule of the PhilHealth onsite registration. We will also try to post or tweet the schedule if available. Moreover, you can request for an onsite registration by coordinating with the Marketing and Collection Department (MCD) or the International & Local Cooperation Department (ILCD) of PhilHealth Central Office or through the PhilHealth Regional offices.

In addition, for existing PhilHealth members, the registration sites above will not process any amendment or changes to your membership record such as correction in your name or date of birth or change in civil status. They shall only be processing addition of your declared dependents. You would need to go to any PhilHealth office for this. Hence, if there are any discrepancy found in the information you have provided upon application and the information provided by PhilHealth, your transaction cannot be processed by the registration site. You would need to first correct or update your record with PhilHealth. So to prevent this from happening, ensure that you have an updated PhilHealth record before you apply for the I-PhilHealthy Card.

The SM outlets and CIS Bayad Centers are also accepting collections or payments of your premium contributions particularly for individually paying members. They shall be accepting card and registration applications starting on September 16, 2011 within NCR and the rest of the branches will follow. You may ask directly with the SM and Bayad Centers nearest you for their exact implementation schedule.

What documents are needed to apply for an I-PhilHealthy card?

• Non-PhilHealth member. Unemployed and employed members not yet registered with PhilHealth (those without PhilHealth numbers) will be required to submit a fully accomplished PhilHealth Membership Registration Form (PMRF) with attached supporting documents for the principal member and declared dependents. Required documents are listed in the 2nd page or back page of the PMRF. For employed non-PhilHealth members, attach an ER2 to be provided by your employer;

• Existing Members. Existing members should submit an accomplished PMRF (write your PhilHealth number, name and date of birth along with the information of your dependents that will be issued their dependent card) with attached supporting documents for newly declared dependents. You can read our post on who can be declared or recognized as a valid dependent. For employed or individually paying members, photocopy of existing PhilHealth ID Card (PIC) or PhilHealth Number Card (PNC). In lieu of the PhilHealth card you may submit a photocopy of any valid ID. For OFWs, bring photocopy of your existing PhilHealth ID Card or e-receipt, a Member Data Record (MDR). OFWs may also apply for the card through authorized representatives (next of kin), just in case provide an authorization letter. For members under the lifetime membership program (pensioners, retirees and others), bring a photocopy of your Lifetime Membership Program Card. For sponsored members, bring photocopy of your PhilHealth ID Card (with effectivity);

Bring the original documents and IDs to be presented to the registration sites, however, you will only be required to submit the photocopies / xerox copies.

How much will be the cost for the Card?

• Non-PhilHealth member. New registrants shall pay a total of Php360.00 when applying in SM outlets (distributed as Php50.00 for registration and card fees, Php300.00 for one quarter payment and Php10.00 collecting fee) or Php358.00 in CIS Bayad Centers (comprising of Php50.00 for registration and card fees, Php300 for one quarter payment and Php8.00 collection fee);

• Existing member. Existing members with active coverage or payments only needs to pay the Php50.00 registration and card fees. However, inactive or non-paying PhilHealth members may also pay their premium contributions in the registration sites plus the corresponding collection fee;

• Dependents. When the principal member applies for the card, two (2) of his/her dependents will be issued their own I-PhilHealthy Card free of charge. The member may opt to provide all his/her declared dependents with their individual card in excess of the two free dependent cards for a corresponding fee. We will be posting the fee once the official advisory comes out.

How to use the I-PhilHealthy Card

There is no need to activate the card and the member is eligible to avail the privileges as long as the member is actively or regularly paying the corresponding premium contributions. The I-PhilHealthy Card of the principal member can be used to avail privileges in the form of discounts or incentives offered in any partner merchants.

Discounts offered is not on top of the 20% Senior Citizens Discount, hence Lifetime Members should choose which discount to use when transacting with the partner establishments.

The partner merchants may require you to present a valid ID when availing the privileges to ensure your identity.

Who are the partner merchants / Where can you use the I-PhilHealthy Card (a separate post will be provided to list all services and privileges being offered)

• Qualifirst Health Inc.;
• GlaxoSmith Kline;
• United Laboratories, Inc.;
• Watsons Personal Care stores;
• Fresenius/ FMC Renal Care Corp.;
• PQ Health Shield;
• Rose Pharmacy Inc.;
• South Star Drugstore;
• Vivian Sarabia Optical Corp.;
• J&W Drug Testing, Inc.;
• SM outlets;
• CIS Bayad Centers;
• Prime IT Source;
• e-Soluzione;
• 1abx;
• All Cards Plastic Philippines;
• and more to come...

Mechanics in Applying for an I-PhilHealthy Card

• The member will go to any registration site and submit the needed documents;
• The Partner Registration Facility (PRF) shall verify the completeness of the documents;
• The PRF shall encode all needed information from the PMRF into the system;
• The PRF will ask you to confirm correctness of encoded / retrieved information. For existing members, you will be informed to coordinate with PhilHealth if there is any discrepancy found in your record. The discrepancy should first be resolved in order to be issued an I-PhilHealthy Card;
• Once member information is confirmed the PRF will generate a PhilHealth number and encode the two dependents, generate a PhilHealth number for the dependents for the issuance of their own free dependent cards. You may ask the PRF to encode more than two dependents for issuance of the PIN and dependent card at a given cost;
• The PRF will provide a claim stub for the claiming of the I-PhilHealthy Card. The stub also contains the date when the card can be picked-up which is at least two (2) weeks from the date of your application. The I-PhilHealthy Card can be claimed at the site where you have registered or lodged an application;
• The PRF will forward unclaimed cards after one year of issuance to corresponding PhilHealth branches. Hence you would need to coordinate with the PhilHealth Office to claim your I-PhilHealthy Card. Call any PhilHealth office near your area on what branch you can claim the card. PhilHealth might also mail the card based on the address in your membership record.

Replacement of Lost / Stolen Card

• Submit an Affidavit of Loss, a request letter for replacement and the documentary requirements for existing members. You will be required to pay for the Php 50.00 registration and card fee and may claim the replacement card at the registration site you have filed your request.

In our personal opinion, since the I-PhilHealthy Card might not be considered a valid ID card by other institutions or establishments due to the unavailability of the cardholder's picture, it is therefore recommended that you hold onto or request for a PhilHealth ID Card. This is especially recommended for those individuals who do not own an ID card since they will need one for transacting with PhilHealth or encashing of check payment issued by PhilHealth (for directly filed claims).

As PhilHealth has not yet released an official advisory or Circular on these, the information contained here will be updated based on the final information release from PhilHealth. So keep checking back on this post for updates.