22-Year-Old Fresh Graduate Discovered She Had P22,000 Debt w/ PhilHealth
A 22-year-old fresh graduate was left confused after discovering a P22,000 debt with PhilHealth, despite only applying for membership this June.
PhilHealth contributions are payments made by members to maintain their health insurance coverage under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. These contributions support the Universal Health Care program, ensuring Filipinos have access to affordable medical services like hospitalization, consultations, and diagnostic tests.
Employees have their contributions shared with their employers, while self-employed individuals, freelancers, and overseas Filipino workers pay directly. For low-income individuals and senior citizens, the government may cover the contributions through subsidies.
The amount members contribute depends on their income. Voluntary members pay a fixed amount based on their declared earnings.
Recently, Andrea Borcelis, who joined PhilHealth as a voluntary member, was surprised to find a record indicating she owed payments dating back to 2019. Even more puzzling was the detail that her membership was reportedly initiated in 2014 when she was just 12 years old.
According to PhilHealth, she was registered as an indigent member in 2014 through a list provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This enrollment meant that her contributions should have been covered under the indigent program during that time.
However, when Borcelis shifted to voluntary membership, her category shifted, leading to the billing confusion.
Initially, the records reflected a P22,000 balance, causing significant concern. After further verification, PhilHealth clarified that the actual amount she needed to settle was P2,000, not P22,000.
The incident points out the potential gaps in PhilHealth’s record-keeping system and the need for clearer communication with members about their contributions and status. For Borcelis, it was an unexpected challenge as she started on her professional journey.
The fresh graduate raises questions about how such discrepancies occur and how they can be resolved more efficiently. Her experience may serve as a reminder for new members to double-check their PhilHealth records and ensure all details are accurate to avoid similar situations.
In another post, Chiz Escudero says PhilHealth can lower contribution rates w/ idle funds
The social media users expressed their reactions to the incident:
