Students that are back for face-to-face classes under the new normal can get their health insurance.
Image: DepEd Philippines Facebook page
Many schools have returned to the new normal—with students returning to classrooms after two years of learning via virtual classes. The new normal protocols for the school year focus primarily on preventive measures like wearing face masks and social distancing. While the said safety protocols are effective, another layer of protection like healthinsurance for students can come in handy.
Health insurance is one of the requirements set by the government for students returning to schools under Alert Level 1—which allows full classroom capacity.
The required health insurance for students under the new normal must be from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) or any health insurance systems covering COVID-19.
Registration requirements and eligible members
Students under the new normal can register for PhilHealth insurance either as indirect or direct contributors. The difference between the two is that direct contributors pay for their health insurance contribution; indirect contributors are those who can’t—this includes those who are qualified dependents of government-subsidized senior citizens and indigents.
Students aged 21 and above may apply as indigent members for health insurance if they do not have sources of income. Minors and those below 21 years old may undergo registration as dependents of already PhilHealth members (guardians or parents).
Students who will apply as indigent members for their new normal classes must first have a certificate of indigency as the first step of the registration. Students can get the certificate from their respective municipal or city welfare offices.
Some schools like the University of the Philippines set up their own PhilHealth insurance booths to ease the queues during registration. PhilHealth is also coordinating with schools that require students’ health insurance for new normal classes in facilitating their own registration steps within school premises.
The monthly cost of premium health insurance is PhP300.
As for students who don’t have their health insurance for face-to-face classes during the new normal but are allowed to participate by their Higher Education Institution (HEI), the HEI will be in charge of medical procedures if students get COVID-19 as per IATF protocols.
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All details and information in this article are true and accurate as of the publication date. However, while we are making our utmost effort to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the condition surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be unpredictable, and the situation is developing rapidly. Hence, some information and recommendations may have changed since this article was published. For the latest advice, visit DOH and your LGU's official websites.
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