Philippine Health Insurance Corporation

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
Company typeGovernment-owned and controlled corporation
IndustryHealth
FoundedFebruary 5, 1915; 109 years ago (1915-02-05)
February 5, 1995; 29 years ago (1995-02-05)
Headquarters
Citystate Centre, 709 Shaw Boulevard, Oranbo, Pasig
Area served
Philippines
Key people
Hon. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa (Chairman)
Emmanuel “Mandy” R. Ledesma, Jr. (President and CEO)
ServicesUniversal health coverage
OwnerDepartment of Health
Websitewww.philhealth.gov.ph

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) was created in 1995 to implement universal health coverage in the Philippines. It is a tax-exempt, government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) of the Philippines, and is attached to the Department of Health. On August 4, 1969, Republic Act 6111 or the Philippine Medical Care Act of 1969 was signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos and implemented in August 1971.

Its stated goal is to "ensure a sustainable national health insurance program for all", according to the company.[1] In 2010, it claimed to have achieved "universal" coverage at 86% of the population, although the 2008 National Demographic Health Survey showed that only 38 percent of respondents were aware of at least one household member being enrolled in PhilHealth.[2] Nevertheless, this social insurance program provides a means for the healthy to pay for the care of the sick and for those who can afford medical care to subsidize those who cannot. Both local[3] and national governments allocate funds to subsidize the indigent.[4]

  1. ^ "R.A. 7875 AN ACT INSTITUTING A NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR ALL FILIPINOS AND ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION FOR THE PURPOSE" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 4, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  2. ^ Niel Lim, INCITEGov and VERA Files. "'Conservative' and 'sluggish' PhilHealth misses healthcare target". GMA News. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  3. ^ Balana, Cynthia (September 29, 2010). "PhilHealth doubles premiums". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 1, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  4. ^ "PREMIUM SUBSIDY FOR INDIGENTS UNDER THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM" (PDF). Department of Budget and Management. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.