SBG: PWD benefits need clear guidelines
As the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) exempts persons with disabilities (PWDs) from premium contributions, Senator Christopher“Bong” Go urged clear guidelines to benefit those truly in need.
PhilHealth must ensure that rules on the coverage of persons with disabilities are updated and implemented clearly, consistently and with sufficient public information, Go added.
Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and a health reforms crusader, stressed that the government must clearly explain eligibility, required documents, and how PWDs can access benefits under the National Health Insurance Program.
“The program is commendable, but our fellow Filipinos must be clearly informed about who is eligible, what the requirements are, and where they can seek assistance. We should not make it difficult for persons with disabilities (PWDs) who rightfully qualify for these benefits to access them,” Go said.
The call comes as PhilHealth issued Circular 2026-0017 aligning its registration, validation and premium administration procedures with the Unified Persons with Disabilities ID System or UPWDIS. The circular implements Republic Act 11228, which mandates the automatic enrollment of qualified PWDs in the National Health Insurance Program.
Public funds must benefit needy
According to Go, the policy should ultimately be measured by whether it reaches legitimate beneficiaries, particularly PWDs who may already be dealing with added medical and daily living expenses.
This program must benefit those who genuinely need assistance. “We are using public funds, so we must ensure that the aid goes to qualified beneficiaries who truly need support,” he said.
He emphasized that the guidelines must be easy to understand so technical requirements do not discourage or confuse qualified beneficiaries. At the same time, safeguards remain in place to ensure that government subsidies are properly targeted.
Under the circular, Filipino PWDs listed in the official PWD Registry are automatically covered under the National Health Insurance Program, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.
The registry currently relies on the Department of Health’s Philippine Registry of Persons with Disability and will eventually transition to the UPWDIS once the latter becomes fully operational.
Go said this distinction should be clearly communicated to the public, particularly because registration and verification requirements differ depending on a person’s employment and registry status.