Three members of the House of Representatives have filed a measure seeking to exempt Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from mandatory Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) contributions.
House Bill No. 6355, authored by Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Rep. Leila De Lima, Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, and Albay 1st District Rep. Krisel Lagman, aims to amend Republic Act No. 11223 or the “Universal Healthcare (UHC) Act” to make PhilHealth payments voluntary for OFWs.
“Given their indispensable role in national development, OFWs deserve relief from redundant and excessive statutory burdens. Making PhilHealth contributions voluntary is therefore not only a matter of fairness but also of sound public policy and social justice,” the three lawmakers stressed.
They added that while PhilHealth coverage also extends to dependents, the same protection could be achieved through “voluntary and flexible contribution schemes without imposing undue financial strain on our overseas worker.”