Senator Christopher “Bong” Go called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to ensure that persons with disabilities (PWDs) are properly informed about its updated rules to make health coverage implementation clear, consistent, and widely accessible.
As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Go emphasized that the government must clearly communicate eligibility rules, submission requirements, and benefit access procedures under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).
His appeal followed PhilHealth’s issuance of Circular No. 2026-0017, which aligns registration, validation, and premium administration procedures with the Unified Persons with Disabilities ID System (UPWDIS) in compliance with Republic Act No. 11228. This law mandates the automatic enrollment of qualified PWDs into the NHIP.
“The program is good, but it must be made clear to our fellow citizens who is eligible, what the requirements are, and where they should go. Let’s not make things difficult for PWDs who are rightfully entitled to receive these benefits,” Go said.
“This should benefit those who truly need it. We are using public funds for this, so let us ensure that the assistance reaches those who are qualified and genuinely in need of support,” he added.
Go stressed that the policy’s success depends on whether it effectively reaches legitimate beneficiaries, particularly PWDs facing additional medical and daily living expenses.
He also highlighted that guidelines must remain straightforward to prevent technical requirements from confusing or discouraging qualified individuals, while maintaining proper safeguards for state subsidies.
Under the new circular, Filipino PWDs listed in the official PWD Registry receive automatic NHIP coverage regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. The registry currently utilizes the Department of Health’s Philippine Registry of Persons with Disability and will transition to the UPWDIS once fully operational.
Go noted that these distinctions, along with varying verification and registration requirements tied to employment and registry status, must be clearly explained to the public.
Local government units (LGUs), through their respective Persons with Disability Affairs Offices, are primarily responsible for registering PWDs, issuing official PWD identification cards, and updating registry records.
Alternatively, PWDs can register directly at the nearest PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office by submitting a completed PhilHealth Member Registration Form alongside a photocopy of their PWD ID for validation.
Go reiterated that PhilHealth, LGUs, and partner agencies must streamline these procedures to ensure they are easily understandable and accessible for PWDs and their families navigating government systems.