February is the country’s National Health Insurance Month in recognition of the significant role that insurance plays in every Filipino’s life.
To improve health and reduce the financial burden on households, National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) was established to provide universal health insurance coverage and ensure affordable, acceptable, available, and accessible health care services for all Filipino citizens.
Illnesses can have a significant financial impact on affected households, especially debilitating ones. Many people resorted to alternative means of attending to their health due to limited access to affordable and quality health care. The National Health Insurance program of the government aims to provide affordable access to health care to improve Filipino’s quality of life.
On February 14, 1995, Republic Act No. 7875, otherwise known as the National Health Insurance Act was signed into law, marking a significant milestone in the efforts of the government in providing all citizens of the Philippines a mechanism to gain financial access to health services. The month of February of every year was declared as the National Health Insurance Month under Proclamation no. 1400 signed on October 9, 2007, by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The amendment of the National Health Insurance Act of 1995 under Republic Act 7875 with the National Health Insurance Act of 2013 (Republic Act 10606) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations ensures the government’s commitment to the attainment of Universal Health Care or “Kalusugan Pangkalahatan”. The new rules also established simpler procedures in accrediting health care providers to promote greater access to health services across the country without sacrificing the quality of care.
Spearheading every years' NHIP Month celebration is the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) which also marks its 26th anniversary on February 14. Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), a government-owned and controlled corporation created by Republic Act 7875, as amended by Republic Act 9241, otherwise known as “An Act Instituting a National Health Insurance Program for All Filipinos and Establishing the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for the Purpose”, was set to fulfill its mandate to lead the administration of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) in the Philippines.
By: Elton N. Pelegrino & Rowence F. Zorilla
References:
1. February is National Health Insurance Program Month
https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/news/2012/nhip_month.php#:~:text=FEBRUARY%20of%20each%20year%20is,plays%20in%20every%20Filipino's%20life.
2. PROCLAMATION NO. 1400 DECLARING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY OF EVERY YEAR AS THE "NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE MONTH"
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2007/10oct/20071009-PROC-1400-GMA.pdf
3. The Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the National Health Insurance Act of 2013
https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/about_us/IRR_NHIAct_2013.pdf
