GWP Partner Testimonial of Regional VP for Region 8 Mr. Walter Bacareza of PhilHealth

Using the Electronic Premium Reporting System (EPRS)

This is in reference to our previous post introducing the new online reporting scheme implemented by PhilHealth last September 2010. The said scheme is used by employers in submitting their monthly remittance report (RF-1) containing a list of their employees and corresponding premium contributions that have been deducted.

For those who are already registered under the new scheme, you may download the user guide or user manual (in PDF format) through this link. You may also post or share your experiences on our Facebook page so that we may get your feedback.

For those employers who haven't already registered under this scheme, we recommend you to implement the online reporting scheme as the report will be automatically processed and recorded in PhilHealth's database, hence a timely updating of your employee's premium contributions. Access to the status of your submitted online reports are also provided in this facility.

Preparing the PhilHealth Employer's Remittance Report (RF-1) using the PPRS

The PhilHealth Premium Remittance System (PPRS) is a stand-alone application that is being distributed by PhilHealth since 1999. The system is designed in such a way as to facilitate the payment and generation of the RF-1 Remittance Report of the employers in a softcopy or text format. This post is intended to give you a bit more information on the PPRS as another reporting scheme.

Advantages in using the PPRS:

• Security enabled features which include user accounts to access the functionality of the system as well as system roles to determine which modules/functionalities may be accessible for a given type of user account;
• Facilitates preparation of reports for multiple employers;
• Printing of the RF-1 hardcopy, M5 summary and a transmittal list;
• Provides utilities such as backup of the database, restoration of database, management of users, employee transfers and others;
• Prepare the remittance report in advance prior payment so as to easily determine the actual payment to be made;
• Captures monthly remittance and report generation;
• Ease in updating the compensation bracket for the employer and employee share;
• Automatic computation of the bracket based on compensation/salary defined in the employee profile.

Disadvantages:

• There is minimal support being provided for the system;
• PhilHealth no longer provides updates to the functionality or enhancement of the system.
• Although the system can generate the remittance report monthly in text file format the old RF-1 layout is being used in the hardcopy.

Though no further updates are being provided by PhilHealth, the system is still considered as an option for the generation of the remittance report in softcopy or text format. If you wish to download an installer of the application click here. To download the User Manual click here.

The system is for those who are not at ease in using the Excel format or hardcopy, employers that see the need to have a back-up of their remittance reports, those who are not able to use the Electronic Premium Reporting System (EPRS) or those who do not have the capability or resources to develop a system to aid in the preparation of their remittance report.

How to Prepare the Employer Remittance Report (RF-1)

Here are pointers you need to know to help you prepare / accomplish the PhilHealth Employer Remittance Report Form (RF-1) as required by PhilHealth.

• The report shall be prepared on a monthly basis;
• Deadline of submission shall be every 15th day of the month following the applicable month;
• Employers should attach the PhilHealth Membership Registration Form (PMRF) for reported employees that do not have a corresponding PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN) including the ER-2. The ER-2 is a document certifying the employees of the company. In this way, the registration of your employees will be facilitated prior posting of their contributions (PhilHealth Circular No. 13 s-2010);
• Employees that have not been deducted their premium contributions in your payroll should still be included in the report. The bracket and amount of contribution that should be reflected is zero (0), with the remarks and date of remark effectivity required. If the employee was not paid for the month but is still with the company then the remark shall be NE for No Earning, if the employee is no longer part of the company due to retirement, termination or separation then the remark shall be Separated (SP), for newly hired employees simply reflect NH for Newly Hired. For Separated remark, reflect the date when the employee was separated, date hired for Newly Hired and for the No Earning reflect the date when of no earning. (PhilHealth Circular No. 13 s-2010);
• The report may be prepared/submitted through hardcopy, softcopy or online. Use the method that is best for you. Employers with more than ten (10) employees however, are required to prepare and submit a softcopy or electronic report. Those that do not have the capability to do so should inform the nearest PhilHealth Office as compliance is being monitored pursuant to PhilHealth Circular No. 02 s-2010;
• Hardcopy reports can be submitted through walk-in, dropbox or mail. Dropbox or mailed submission are not recommended for softcopy report. Submission through email for softcopy reports are not yet allowed as copies of the payment receipts are still being attached to the report;
• There are alternatives in preparing the softcopy report. The first is by using a Microsoft Excel based template distributed by PhilHealth, the second is for the system generated file from your payroll system that is compliant to the file specifications released by PhilHealth, and the last is to manually create the file compliant to the file specifications by using either Notepad or Excel. Stay tuned as we will be providing the guide in preparing the softcopy using the Excel template and the file specification guidelines;
• There are two alternatives in which to submit the softcopy report. The first is by personally submitting it to any PhilHealth Office. The second is by submitting it through an online facility developed by an accredited bank/agent designed for the Electronic Payment Scheme (EPS). To know more about the EPS click here;
• Employers would also have the option to prepare and submit the report online through a web-based facility being provided by PhilHealth. This is the Electronic Premium Reporting System (EPRS) which is the online version of the previously released application named the PhilHealth Premium Remittance System (PPRS). To know more about this scheme click here;

We personally recommend you to try the Electronic Premium Reporting System (EPRS) as it is the easiest alternative and would readily facilitate the posting of reported premium contributions of the employees. However, this reporting scheme is not advisable for those that are often offsetting their payments due to over or under remittances of their employees' premium contributions.

Employers: Enroll under the Electronic Payment Scheme (ePAY)

The Electronic Payment System (EPS) also known as ePay is a mechanism introduced by PhilHealth since 2004 to allow the employers to remit their premium payments and submit a softcopy format of the Employer Remittance Report (RF-1) electronically through the accredited bank's online facility.

With this method employers must first prepare the remittance report and upload the report using the bank's online facility, after which the bank facility shall automatically deduct the total amount of premium to be paid from the bank account of the employer. PhilHealth will then download the remittance report submitted through the bank's online facility and process the report for posting of individual contributions. Through this facility, underremittance or overremittance will be minimized as the bank's system ensures that the correct total contribution amount will be deducted from the employer's bank account as payment to PhilHealth.

How to enroll under this scheme:

1. The employer should have its own PhilHealth Employer Number (PEN).

2. The employer must have an account in the ePay accredited bank.

3. The employer should conform to the layout of the RF1 softcopy. (Employers would need to contact the nearest PhilHealth Office for the guidelines on softcopy reporting.)

4. The employer needs to directly register with the ePay accredited bank.

The accredited banks implementing the ePay are:

1. Union Bank of the Philippines (OneHub)

2. Bank of the Philippine Islands (ExpressLink)

3. Citibank (CitiConnect)

4. Security Bank (Digibanker)

You have to go to the corresponding banks to enroll and you will be provided with an online user account that you would need to access their system. Additional banks may be registered under the ePay so stay tuned to this blog as we will post updates once new banks are enrolled.

Paying PhilHealth Premiums using your Mobile Phone

Do you know that individuals already registered as PhilHealth Members can pay their contributions using the load in your mobile phone?

Individually paying members no longer need to wait or stand in line in accredited banks in order to pay your contributions. And guess what, you can now pay on a monthly basis through this service and even view your contributions on the PhilHealth's website!

The service PhilHealth payment thru text also known as Remittance By Air, is open to all Smart and Talk n Text prepaid subscribers. You would need to have at least Php115.00 load to use the service. The Php100.00 will be for the PhilHealth premium and the Php15.00 transaction fee.

One phone can be used for payment of more than one registered member. Hence you may even pay for your loved ones contributions using one smart or talk n text SIM, you only need enough load to do this. Another innovation from PhilHealth in making payments more accessible to the public.

To use the service, follow these steps:

1. Type PHIC(space) PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN) and send to 7442. Ex. PHIC 123456789012
2. Validate the text that you will receive and if correct type PHIC YES to 7442.
3. Once you receive a health advisory and your reference number it means that payment has been sent.

The applicable month of payment will be based on the month you have used the service. So if you used the Remittance By Air this March, then you are paying for your March contribution. You may use the service anytime within April to pay for your April contribution and so on. You may find related info by clicking here.

If you have already used this service, tell us your experience by leaving a comment below.

Prepare and Submit the PhilHealth Employer Remittance Report (RF1) Online using the Electronic Premium Reporting System (EPRS)

A new reporting scheme has been launched on October 1, 2010 enabling the online preparation and submission of the Employer’s Remittance Report (RF1) by using the Electronic Premium Reporting System (EPRS). The availability of the online reporting scheme was announced under Circular No. 30, s-2010 published on October 28, 2010 in the PhilHealth website.

The EPRS is a web-based application which facilitates not only the posting of individual premium contributions but also the assignment of the PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN) for unregistered members.

There are three (3) major advantages in using this scheme:

1. Facilitates the assignment of PhilHealth Identification Numbers (PIN) to unregistered NHIP members.

2. Faster posting of employee contributions as the report directly prepared by the employer will be automatically posted in the PhilHealth database upon PhilHealth validation.

3. Ensures that the total contributions of the report would tally with the actual payment made as the report will be prepared prior payment of contributions.

Requirements in using the EPRS:

1. The reporting employer should have its own PhilHealth Employer Number (PEN). The PEN will be issued to the employer once the employer registers with PhilHealth.

2. The employer should be directly remitting or paying to any PhilHealth office.

3. The period and amount of the report being prepared and that reflected in the receipt should be the same.

The employer would need to be trained in using the web-based application. You will be required to fill-out a PhilHealth Online Access Form (POAF). The user account will be electronically sent in the email address you specified in the form so be sure to provide a valid and active email address. To request for the training schedule, contact any PhilHealth office near you.

I just hope that this will be the starting point of PhilHealth in providing an easier means to access their services and that the infrastructure of PhilHealth is capable in maintaining this facility.