Qualified employed solo parents in the Philippines may stop paying the employee share of their PhilHealth premiums starting October 2026. The National Government will subsidize that portion under a new circular from the state insurer. The change requires paperwork from both the worker and the employer before it takes effect on a member’s record.
PhilHealth Circular No. 2026-0015, titled “Coverage of Solo Parents and Their Children or Dependents to the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP),” was published in the Manila Standard on September 26, 2026. It took effect upon publication.
The circular updates PhilHealth Circular No. 2024-0020. It is meant to strengthen the implementation of the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act (Republic Act No. 11861) and to ensure that qualified solo parents continuously receive their PhilHealth benefits. Under it, solo parents are no longer required to pay their premium contributions, as these are subsidized by the National Government.
For employed solo parents, the subsidy covers the employee share only. The employer share remains payable by the employer under existing rules.
Who is covered
The circular applies to all Filipino solo parents and their children or dependents who are registered with the Solo Parent Office (SPO) or Solo Parent Division (SPD) of their local government unit (LGU).
A person registered with the SPO or SPD and issued a valid Solo Parent Identification Card (SPIC) may be enrolled with PhilHealth as an “Indirect Contributor – Solo Parent.”
The SPIC is the primary proof that a person is a qualified solo parent, and PhilHealth requires it before placing a member under this category. Solo parents obtain the card from the SPO or SPD of their LGU. Those without a SPIC cannot be tagged as Indirect Contributor – Solo Parent and must secure one before updating their membership record.
How to qualify for the subsidy
The subsidy is not applied automatically. According to the circular, the solo parent and the employer must first submit the required documents so PhilHealth can update the member’s record and tag the member as an “Indirect Contributor – Employed Solo Parent” in its database.
Requirements for employed solo parents
- A valid Solo Parent ID Card (SPIC) issued by the SPO or SPD of the member’s LGU
- A duly accomplished PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF)
- A copy of the front and back of the SPIC
- A certification from the employer’s Human Resource Department confirming the member’s employment status and certifying that the member is a solo parent (Annex A of the circular)
Steps to qualify
- Fill out the PMRF and attach copies of the front and back of the SPIC.
- Submit these to the company’s Human Resource Department.
- Human Resources issues the employer certification using Annex A of the circular.
- The documents are submitted to PhilHealth through one of two routes.
Submission routes
- Through the employer: The PMRF, SPIC copy and employer certification go to the nearest PhilHealth office through the employer’s PhilHealth Employers’ Engagement Representative (PEER), who coordinates with the PhilHealth Accounts Information Management Specialist (PAIMS).
- Direct submission: If the employer has not submitted the documents, the employed solo parent may personally submit them to the nearest PhilHealth office or through the PhilHealth Member Portal, in accordance with applicable policies and guidelines.
After PhilHealth updates the membership record, the Electronic Premium Remittance System (EPRS) recognizes the member’s status when the Statement of Premium Account (SPA) is generated. The employer continues to pay and remit its own share.
A representative may process documents on behalf of a solo parent. The representative must present an authorization letter signed by the solo parent and one valid government-issued photo ID, in addition to the required documents.
Registration for solo parents who are not employed
Walk-in registration is allowed. A solo parent who wants to register as an Indirect Contributor must:
- Visit the nearest Local Health Insurance Office (LHIO).
- Bring a duly accomplished PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF). Because the form is being revised to include fields for solo parents, applicants must for now write the “Solo Parent” subtype and the SPIC number at the bottom of the “Indirect Contributor” membership type in Part IV.
- Provide a copy of the front and back of the valid SPIC.
- Wait for the issuance of the Member Data Record (MDR) and PhilHealth ID.
Dependents
All dependents listed on the back of the SPIC are recognized by PhilHealth as qualified dependents. Children or dependents who are unmarried, unemployed and 22 years old or below, and who rely on the solo parent for support, may be declared. Those over 22 may also qualify if they have a physical or mental disability.
PhilHealth noted that this differs from the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, under which qualified child dependents are below 21 years old unless they have a permanent disability. The circular describes the 22-year threshold as a special provision under the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act.
A solo parent may also declare relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, provided they are listed on the SPIC. The solo parent subtype is the only PhilHealth membership subtype granted this privilege, under Section 4(e) of RA No. 11861.
Keeping your status active
Solo parents must inform PhilHealth of the renewal of their SPIC before it expires to maintain the classification. If the card expires and the renewal is not reported, the membership reverts to the appropriate classification until proof of renewal is submitted.
A member who renews months or years after expiry must pay premium contributions for the lapse period until the renewal is submitted and solo parent status is restored. PhilHealth will notify affected members by SMS or other communication channels, with instructions on how to restore the classification.
Solo parents without SPIC
Solo parents without a valid SPIC can still receive PhilHealth benefits under the UHC Act, including those not yet listed in the Solo Parent Centralized Database. Members currently enrolled as Direct Contributors, however, must keep paying the employee share of their premium.
Applicants not listed in the DSWD Solo Parent Centralized Database may be enrolled either as a “Direct Contributor – Self-Earning Individual” or as an “Indirect Contributor – Financially Incapable,” whichever applies.
Solo parents and their qualified dependents may avail of the PhilHealth YAKAP package under existing policies. Qualified solo parents are also covered by the existing No Co-payment and No Balance Billing policies.
For more information, contact the PhilHealth Corporate Action Center at (02)8662-2588. You may also visit the PhilHealth website at www.philhealth.gov.ph or the nearest PhilHealth Regional Office or Local Health Insurance Office.
