PhilHealth privilege card available

CEBU, Philippines - Members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) who wish to avail of more services from the insurance company may now avail of the PhilHealth privilege card.

Philhealth-7 public relation officer Dina Cinchez said the privilege card is loaded with incentives from at least 20 companies, allowing members to enjoy discounts on medicine purchases, medical treatments, among other products and services, to members.

PhilHealth members may avail of the card by filling out a form at SM outlets starting tomorrow, Monday. They may avail of the card at P50 with a separate transaction fee of P10 while non-members may avail of the card at P300.

Cinchez said the discounts are expected to “usher in more member sign-ups into the National Health Insurance Program, as the agency is eyeing to attract informal sectors such as taxi and jeepney drivers, farmers, fishermen, self-employed individuals, market vendors, among others, to enroll in PhilHealth.”     

PhilHealth members can also enjoy product and service discounts using the card. Those buying cosmetics and personal care products at Watson’s may get a 10 percent discount. They will also enjoy a similar discount rate on all Compliance Packs and generic medicine.

Similarly, members buying branded medicine at Watson’s will get a five percent discount and up to 50 to 60 percent discount on Qualifirst products and P380 flu vaccine privilege.

Members who need to undergo a hemodialysis procedure in Fresenius Medical Center are entitled to a discount of up to P4,000. Hemodialysis is a method of removing waste products such as creatinine and urea, as well as free water from the blood when the kidneys are in renal failure.

Pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline can reportedly give Flu Vaccine at 80 percent lower than regular prices to members while another company, PQ HealthShield, can give a 20 percent discount on their vaccines.

Meanwhile, the HLO Drug Testing Laboratory Inc. can give 10 percent discount, especially for members who need to renew their driving licenses.

PhilHealth members are also entitled to receive free eye exams at Sarabia Optical and may avail of a 20 percent discount on regular priced items for complete frame and lens orders and a 10 percent discount on complete packages.

In Qualifirst Health, PhilHealth members are given 50 to 60 percent discount on generic medicine.

Rose Pharmacy and South Star Drug can give 15 percent discount for unbranded generic medicine and OTC medicines and a five percent discount for medical supplies and devices

“Ang makapahimulos sa maong diskwento kay kadto rang mga miyembro sa Philhealth nga aktibo ang ilang pagpasakop,” Cinchez said.

The privilege card is made of PVC material, the new ID has a magnetic stripe, comes in full color, and displays the member’s name, PhilHealth identification number, and birth date.    - (THE FREEMAN)