Need to get your own PhilHealth ID?
Many PhilHealth members often overlook gettingtheir own ID even if there is virtually no charge in getting one.
But how can you get one? Do you need to becomea PhilHealth member first? What are the benefits of getting this card?
In this article, let’s talk about the stepsyou need to take to get your own PhilHealth ID and answer some questionsrelated to it.
Let’s get started.
What is PhilHealth and its ID allabout?
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation(PHIC) is a government corporation that helps Filipinos pay for their medicalneeds. It was created in 1995 to provide financial assistance to people whoneed it.
Membership in PhilHealth is voluntary. Membershave access to the program's comprehensive medical services.
PhilHealth’s facilities and services can beused by anyone who has an ID to help ensure that people have access to primarycare and to make sure that the quality of primary care services is maintained.
Specifically, the PhilHealth IdentificationNumber (or PhilHealth ID number) is a unique and permanent number given toanyone who registers for a PhilHealth membership.
This number is used for the following:
- Identification of the member
- Verification of a member's eligibility forPhilHealth benefits
- Recording of the member's availment of benefits
In short, PhilHealth ID documents are issuedto the program’s members. The ID certifies that the holder and their dependentsare entitled to the benefits and privileges provided by the government'sNational Health Insurance Program.
Note that since the Universal Healthcare Actwas recently signed, all Filipinos are automatically enrolled in PhilHealth.The ID document though is still required for hospital transactions and to availof discounts from pharmacies.
What are the types of PhilHealthID?
There are two types of PhilHealth ID. Each onehas its own perks and benefits. Fortunately, it’s quite possible to get bothtypes.
1. Regular PhilHealth ID
PhilHealth gives out regular ID free of chargeto all members. You can use this to help speed up insurance claim processingwhen you show it to avail of inpatient or outpatient benefits.
This paper ID can be laminated and has asimpler design than other government-issued IDs. Most government and financialinstitutions don't accept it as a primary valid ID.
2. Digitized PhilHealth InsuranceID Card
This digitized PhilHealth Insurance ID, aplastic card with a digital code, is optional for employed members. Similar tothe regular type, you can also use this card for faster transactions withPhilHealth.
Here are its benefits compared to the regularcard:
- This ID card is a valid ID that can be used ingovernment and bank transactions.
- Entitles the owner to discounts on medical servicesand medicines from pharmacies and hospitals that have partnership withPhilHealth.
The downside here is that this ID isn’t free:
- The ID card itself costs 90 Php.
- ID cards for dependents cost 358 Php each.
How to register to PhilHealth
The first step to getting your own PhilHealthID is to register yourself.
For employed people, you may not need to dothis yourself as the first private company you worked in may have already doneyour PhilHealth membership.
If you’re not sure if this was the case, youcan always ask your HR officer. If you’re already registered, then you can askyour HR officer to provide you an ID.
For unemployed and self-employed people whohad no experience as an official employee, you may have to register as avoluntary member and apply for an ID.
To register, visit your nearest PhilHealthLocal Insurance Office and present the following requirements:
- 2x signed copies of the PhilHealth MemberRegistration Form (PMRF)
- 2x latest 1 x 1 ID pictures
- 2x valid ID documents (or a copy of your PSA-issuedbirth certificate)
Go here to download a non-signed copy of themembership registration form. For foreign nationals, go here since you will have to sign adifferent form.
After a PhilHealth officer reviews yourrequirements and registration, that person will give you your PhilHealthIdentification Number (PIN). You need it when you file claims and pay yourmonthly contributions.
Some notes regarding PhilHealth registration:
- There is also an online option to register whereyou only need to upload your requirements. Unfortunately, it’s been unavailablefor a long time now.
- It’s also possible to accomplish the registrationthrough email. Simply send the completed PMRF with scanned copies of therequirements to actioncenter@philhealth.gov.ph. The subject ofthe email has to be “Register” +space “Full name” +space “City/province,region”.
How to get your PhilHealth ID
Once you have your PIN, you are alreadyregistered with PhilHealth. All you need to do now is to get your PhilHealthID.
For the regular PhilHealth ID
If you have registered on site (in one ofPhilHealth’s offices, the officer should issue your regular card along withyour PIN and Member Data Record (MDR).
If you registered online, through email, orelse you didn’t get your regular ID when you registered on site, follow thesesteps:
- Go to a PhilHealth office (including onesinside malls) and bring your PIN and two valid ID documents.
- Get a request form from an office and aservice queue number.
- Complete the request form and check the boxthat says “PhilHealth Identification Card (PIC)”.
- Give the completed form to an officer onceyour queue number is called.
- Wait until the officer finishes yourrequest. Don’t forget to check if all the information in the ID iscorrect.
- Laminate your ID to increase its durability.
In the event that you can’t visit a PhilHealthoffice yourself, you can also ask someone to do it for you.
Make sure your representative has thefollowing:
- An authorization letter with your signature
- Two of your valid ID documents
- A valid ID document of the representative
For the digitized PhilHealthInsurance ID card
Currently, this ID type is only available toemployed members. If you’re employed, you can ask your HR officer about this.
Chances are, you need to convince yourcolleagues as well since your HR office might prefer to order this ID card inbulk. Whatever the case, you will have to coordinate with your company’s HRdepartment.
In the past, PhilHealth issues this card toall its members — both employed and voluntary. This option is put on hold forvoluntary members though for some reason.
For senior citizens
There are two primary options for seniorcitizens (with the thought that a helper will do the work).
The first is to the regular path — getting oneat a PhilHealth office:
- Complete two copies of the registration form.
- Bring a 1x1 picture of the senior citizen.
- Show the elder’s issued-ID from the Office ofSenior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) or any valid government ID document.
- Submit the completed registration form.
- Wait for the Member Data Record along with theregular ID card.
You can also go to the Office of SeniorCitizen Affairs if it’s nearer:
- Complete two copies of the registration form.
- Submit both forms to the officer in OSCA where theelder lives.
- Wait for the elder’s Member Data Record and regularID card.
Reminders when getting aPhilHealth ID
The recently signed Universal Health Care Lawbasically enrolls every Filipino to the PhilHealth program. However, you willstill need to present the ID card for hospital transactions and for discountsfrom pharmacies and other establishments.
Currently, the digitized card is not availablefor distribution to every member. It’s only available to actively employedmembers. This requires you to update your record in PhilHealth once youremployment status changes.
Avoid fixers when getting a PhilHealth ID.Remember that the ID itself and the Member Data Data Record are free and youtypically don’t need to wait too long to get them.
What are the benefits of aPhilHealth ID?
There are real benefits to getting your ownPhilHealth ID.
For the regular, paper PhilHealth ID, you needthis:
- For hospital transactions (even if all Filipinosare now enrolled to PhilHealth)
- For discounts on pharmacies and otherestablishments
The digitized PhilHealth Insurance ID cardwill get you a lot more inclusive discounts from chose pharmacies andestablishments like:
- 15% off on generic drugs from Rose Pharmacy,Watson’s, The Generics Pharmacy, and South Star Drug
- 20%-80% off on flu vaccines (from GSK and PQ HealthShield only)
- 10% off on JNW Drug Testing Centers
- 20% off on purchases from Vivian Sarabia Optical(and free eye exam as well)
In general, PhilHealth members also get packages for COVID-19 patients:
- 43,997 Php for mild pneumonia
- 143,267 Php for moderate pneumonia
- 333,519 Php for severe pneumonia
- 786,384 Php for critical pneumonia
Members who might have COVID-19 though theRT-PCR result came negative can also available of these packages:
- 18,000 Php for moderate pneumonia
- 38,000 Php for severe and critical pneumonia
Frequently Asked Questions onGetting a PhilHealth ID
Here are some of the commonly asked questionsand their owners related to getting a PhilHealth ID:
1. What to do if you lost yourPhilHealth ID?
If you lost your PhilHealth ID, all you needto do is request for a new one from the nearest PhilHealth office.
Unfortunately, the step is similar toregistering for the first time. That means you need to bring the requireddocuments.
Now, you may check first with the local officeif they would require an affidavit of loss. Others say it’s not requiredanymore, though you might want to check first.
If your ID is heavily damaged, you need tosurrender your ID when applying for a new one in the office.
2. How to pay for PhilHealth IDonline?
It’s possible for employers to pay theircontribution online.
For this, you need to register to the ElectronicPremium Remittance System first — a system created so employers canpay their premium contributions online.
You will have to download the EPRS certificates and follow theguidelines given to you. You can then login after you complete therequirements.
3. What happens if you stoppaying your PhilHealth?
If you don’t pay your contributions, you willstill be entitled to PhilHealth benefits and avail of the coverage.
In addition, the state insurance company willnot scare you with legal action to compel you into paying your premiums.
However, there will be repercussions. In a statement from PhilHealth:
“While no one willbe denied of PhilHealth coverage due to non-payment of premiums, Morales alsoclarified that members lacking contributions shall be billed for the unpaidpremiums with interests (compounded monthly) and penalties of at least 3% amonth for employers, sea-based OFWs, and kasambahays.”
The statement also clarified thatself-employed members, professionals, and land-based migrant workers will get amaximum interest of 1.5% per month of missed payments.
4. How to file a PhilHealthclaim?
Filing a PhilHealth claim is easy. This isalso a process where the PhilHealth ID becomes important.
Here are the steps:
- Provide a copy of your Member Data Record and acompleted Claim Form 1.
- Present a copy of your PhilHealth ID, another validID document, and receipts of your monthly contributions.
Do these things before you get discharged fromthe hospital. You can download a copy of Claims Form 1 or get one from thehospital (or your employer).
5. How does a PhilHealth ID andPhilHealth Insurance card differ from each other?
You can read about these PhilHealth IDdocuments above. But to summarize, here are the differences between these two:
- The regular PhilHealth ID is free and you can claimthis after you register at a PhilHealth office. The insurance card isn’t free(though it’s only available right now for actively employed members).
- The regular ID is not accepted in some bankinginstitutions and even government transactions. The insurance card is viewed asa valid ID.
- The regular ID can be used for getting basicservices and for hospital transactions. The insurance card brings with itmember discounts and deals at drug stores and other shops.
- The regular ID can only be used for the owner’sneeds. The insurance card can apply to dependents for discounts and deals atpharmacies and other stores.
6. Do you need to get aPhilHealth number?
PhilHealth will issue a unique PhilHealthIdentification Number (PIN) to registered members of the program. This is alsoshown in the PhilHealth ID.
You will need the PhilHealth number to claimbenefits and packages if you get ill because of COVID-19 or its vaccine.
College students also have to register to PhilHealth to join face-to-face classes so they can also claim benefits and packages dueto COVID-19.
7. What if you forgot yourPhilHealth number?
In relation to the question and answer above,the problem sometimes is when you forget your PhilHealth number and you didn’tget a PhilHealth ID.
For this, there are three things you can do:
- Contact or visit a PhilHealth office near you.
- Text or email PhilHealth
- Ask your previous employer’s HR department
For texting or emailing PhilHealth, you needthe following details in the same format:
- Last name
- First name
- Middle name
- Birthday
You can send your text to 09175129149.Meanwhile, you can send them an email at ofp@philhealth.gov.ph.
Getting a PhilHealth ID
As you have read, getting a PhilHealth ID iseasy. You can get it when you register for the first time.
For the digitized PhilHealth Insurance ID, youwill need the cooperation of your company’s HR department.
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