“Health is wealth,” as the famous saying goes. As a member of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth, you can rest easy knowing that your health and physical well-being will be taken care of. In case you get sick or suffer from a debilitating medical condition, PhilHealth will help defray the costs of your treatment, medication and therapy. Health insurance is really helpful because we all know how expensive medical treatment and hospitalization can be.
Paying your PhilHealth premiums regularly and on time is one way to make sure that you are eligible for benefits. PhilHealth requires its members to pay at least 9 months’ worth of contributions in the last 12 months preceding confinement. So make sure that you pay your dues diligently because you’ll never know when you will need to avail of health and medical benefits from PhilHealth.
Update: Starting November 22, 2019, all Filipinos, including those without qualifying PhilHealth contributions, can avail of PhilHealth benefits, until such time that a new set of guidelines are issued.
You might want to know how much you need to pay in PhilHealth monthly premiums, whether you are employed, a kasambahay, OFW or self-employed. This article will tell you how much to pay based on your membership category and monthly salary. If you’re not yet a PhilHealth member, you can register online by following our step-by-step guide.
PhilHealth Contribution Table for Employed Members (Formal Sector)
PhilHealth has issued Circular 2019-0009, which increases the premium rate to 3.00% of the monthly basic salary. The new premium schedule takes effect on December 7, 2019.
The new PhilHealth contribution rate for employees for the year 2020 is 3.00% of the monthly basic salary, with a salary floor of ₱10,000 and a ceiling of ₱60,000. The premium contribution shall be equally shared by the employee and the employer.
| Monthly Basic Salary x 3.00% | Monthly Premium | Personal Share | Employer Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₱10,000 and below | ₱300.00 | ₱150.00 | ₱150.00 |
| ₱10,000.01 to ₱59,999.99 | ₱300.00 to ₱1,800.00 | ₱150.00 to ₱900.00 | ₱150.00 to ₱900.00 |
| ₱60,000 and above | ₱1,800.00 | ₱900.00 | ₱900.00 |
For example, if your salary is ₱11,250, then your contribution is ₱337.50, half of which (₱168.75) will be paid by your employer.
For kasambahays or domestic workers, the premium contributions should be shouldered solely by the employer in accordance with Republic Act 10361 or the “Domestic Workers Act.” If the kasambahay is receiving a salary of ₱5,000 or more per month, the kasambahay will have to pay his or her proportionate share.
PhilHealth Contribution Table for Self-Employed and Individually Paying Members (Informal Sector)
Self-employed and individually paying members include those from the informal economy (such as street vendors and jeepney drivers) and self-earning individuals (such as doctors, lawyers, businessmen, virtual assistants, etc.). Self-employed and individually paying members can choose to pay quarterly, semi-annually or annually.
| Monthly Income | Monthly Premium | Yearly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| ₱10,000.00 and below | ₱300.00 | ₱3,600.00 |
| ₱10,000.01 to ₱59,999.99 | ₱300.00 to ₱1,800.00 | ₱3,600 to ₱21,600.00 |
| ₱60,000 and above | ₱1,800.00 | ₱21,600.00 |
PhilHealth Contribution Rates for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)
Land-based OFWs or those under the Overseas Workers Program (OWP) can pay ₱2,400 for their yearly contributions or ₱1,200 for six months of contributions.
The contribution rate for sea-based OFWs, which includes seafarers, cruise ship personnel and fishermen, is based on their salary. Please refer to the PhilHealth contribution table for employed members (formal sector) for the exact contribution rate.
OFWs can pay their contributions through accredited collecting agents abroad such as:
- Bank of Commerce
- CIS Bayad Center
- Development Bank of the Philippines
- iRemit, Inc.
- Ventaja International Corporation
Payments can also be done online. For a complete list of PhilHealth-accredited collecting agents overseas, check out this page.
PhilHealth Contribution Rates for Sponsored Members
Sponsored members are individuals whose contributions are being paid for by another individual, government agencies and private organizations. This includes members of the informal economy from the lower income segment, orphans, abandoned children, senior citizens and battered women under the care of the DSWD, barangay health workers and barangay tanods, and unenrolled indigent women who are about to give birth.
A sponsored member’s premium contribution is ₱2,400 per year. Sponsored members are entitled to identified in-patient hospital care (including the Z Benefit Package), outpatient care services and other health care service provided by accredited hospitals and health care centers.
PhilHealth Payment Schedule
PhilHealth contributions can be paid through any accredited collecting partner nationwide, such as Bayad Center and BancNet member banks. A full list of PhilHealth-accredited collecting partners can be found here.
Employers are required to remit their employees’ premium contributions, including the employer’s share, to any PhilHealth-accredited collecting partner. The employer’s payment schedule is as follows:
| Employer's Payment Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Employers with PENs ending in 0-4 | Every 11th-15th day of the month following the applicable period |
| Employers with PENs ending in 5-9 | Every 16th-20th day of the month following the applicable period |
Employers are also required to use the Electronic Premium Remittance System (EPRS), a web-based application for accessing employment information as well the payment of premiums and the preparation and submission of remittance reports.
Individually paying members can pay either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. The payment schedule for individually paying members is as follows:
| Individually Paying Member's Payment Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Monthly | Pay until the last working day of the month being paid for. (Example: Month: January. Deadline: January 31) |
| Quarterly | Pay until the last working day of the quarter being paid for. (Example: Period: January to March. Deadline: March 31) |
| Semi-annually | Pay until the last working day of the first quarter of the semester being paid for. (Example: Period: January to June. Deadline: March 31) |
| Annually | Pay until the last working day of the first quarter of the year being paid for. (Example: Period: January to December. Deadline: March 31) |
Conclusion
PhilHealth is indeed one of the most essential government services out there. Considering that private health insurance from the big insurance companies is quite expensive and beyond the reach of many Filipinos, every able-bodied citizen – rich and poor, young and old – should be a member of PhilHealth to prepare themselves for the uncertainties of life.
However, you can’t just be a PhilHealth member and not do anything about it. You have to pay your PhilHealth premiums regularly so you’ll be eligible for benefits when the need arises. It would be disappointing to know that you can’t claim hospitalization benefits because you failed to pay several months of premiums. Don’t let that happen to you.
So that’s it. If you have any questions or concerns about PhilHealth, call the 24/7 hotline (02) 441-7442 or send an email to [email protected].
