Published: January 12, 2021 | Updated: January 13, 2021 | Posted by: Mayee Gonzales | Government Services
Before claiming any PhilHealth benefits, members have to provide their Member Data Record (MDR) and/or PhilHealth ID. The latter, however, is often overlooked by PhilHealth members even if one can get the ID without charge. After all, you usually only need to provide your membership number for most transactions.
Apart from having a valid ID that you can use for government and non-government transactions, owning an ID from PhilHealth also allows you to maximize your PhilHealth contributions. In case you’re one of those members who don’t have the ID yet, here are the steps for getting one.
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If you are currently employed in a private company, expect your HR officer to accomplish your PhilHealth membership and provide you with an ID.
However, unemployed and self-employed individuals need to register as a “Voluntary Member” and then apply to get a PhilHealth ID card.
The following are the documents that you need to prepare and submit at any PhilHealth Local Insurance Office (LHIO). These are also the PhilHealth ID requirements for unemployed and self-employed individuals.
After reviewing your documents and registration, you will be given your PhilHealth Identification Number. This is the membership number that you will use when paying for your monthly contributions or filing claims.
Read more: A Complete Guide to PhilHealth Voluntary Membership Registration
A designated officer will process your request. Your ID will be printed and issued to you after a few minutes.
Application via the Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA):
Application via a PhilHealth office:
Back to the main article: PhilHealth Benefits Guide for Regular and Voluntary Members
PhilHealth ID Sample
The regular PhilHealth ID card is a paper ID that you can use when claiming inpatient or outpatient hospital benefits. Members can claim this ID without charge at any PhilHealth LHIO.
Although it’s included in the list of valid IDs in the Philippines, it cannot be used for banking or government transactions. It is limited to getting basic services or filing insurance claims at hospitals.
You can request your HR officer to process this for you. You can also claim this ID for free at any PhilHealth LHIO. Just follow the steps above.
On the other hand, the PhilHealth Insurance ID Card[2] is a digitized ID issued to employed members. It’s a PVC plastic card that you don’t need to laminate like the paper PhilHealth regular ID.
Getting this card is optional and can cost some fees, but it has more use than the regular ID card. For one, it’s accepted as a valid ID.
In addition, you can also enjoy exclusive member discounts and deals at participating drug stores, optical shops, laboratories, and drug testing sites.
If you have dependents, you can also let them use the card to avail of these discounts on medicine purchases at affiliated drugstores or pharmacies.
The digitized ID card is not yet available for distribution in all regions. You may want to check with your LHIO to see if it’s already available in your area.
Note that you don’t need to present your ID in order to redeem PhilHealth benefits[3], thanks to the Universal Health Care Law. However, members still need to present their ID for hospital transactions and to get discounts from drug stores and other participating establishments.
The PhilHealth Insurance ID Card is only issued to employed and active members, so make sure that your records are up-to-date before applying for one. This will not only save you time but also make your application legitimate.
Read more: What is Universal Healthcare Act and How Will It Benefit Us?
Unfortunately, there is no shortcut for replacing your ID. You need to go through the application process again and submit the same PhilHealth membership requirements. Only this time, you will need to provide an affidavit of loss as well.
Head down to your nearest PhilHealth office to get a new PhilHealth ID. The same applies if you damage your ID. Surrender your damaged ID along with your new application.
Now that you know how to get PhilHealth ID, are you going to get one anytime soon? We know it can be a hassle to queue up for hours to get government IDs like this one, but don’t discount the importance of having this particular ID. It’s one of the most effective ways to claim benefits in private and public health care institutions. And aside from having your PHIC ID with you for medical emergencies, make sure to always update your PhilHealth membership.
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Mayee is an experienced writer, editor, and content strategist. She enjoys writing about personal finance and lifestyle topics. On her free time, she reads, travels, and watches a lot of movies. She’s also a proud cat-mom. Follow Mayee on LinkedIn.