Sad news for OFWs in UAE and across Globe as Philippines health insurance cooperation just announced that it is mandatory for each and every Filipino working abroad to pay 3% of his/her salary each month for the coverage.
Yes it is true and not one or two thousands of OFW’s in UAE and other countries got agitated and furious with the recent announcements of PhilHealth stating that all overseas Filipinos are now required to pay 3 percent of their salaries per month for the mandatory coverage.
In the circular of the PhilHealth premium rate hike, it is stated that the amount of Php2,400, which used to be the annual payment for the said coverage, is now just an ‘initial payment’ for the rest of the amount that all overseas Filipinos are now mandated by law to pay for 2020 which is considered as the transitional year.
To Read the Circular on PhilHealth official Website, Click Below Link
How much do an OFW need to pay?
Expats’ 3% premium rate will be computed based on monthly salary, with the range at Php 10,000 (AED 730) to Php 60,000 (AED 4,385).
If a person’s salary is higher than AED 4,385, he is still entitled to Php 1,800 (AED 132) on a monthly basis, or the 3 percent of the income ceiling.
Link: Check Today's Peso Rate
“While the premium is computed based on the monthly income, payment shall me made every 3-months, 6-month or full 12-month period,” PhilHealth statement read.
The health authority added that 2020 serves as the transition year, so initial payment of Php 2,400 (AED 175) can be made to meet the new policy requirements.
The remaining balance, on the other hand, shall be settled within the year.
Filipinos in UAE are not happy on the decision and saying that it is not a good time to raise this issue due to the COVID-19 impact with several Filipinos currently on a ‘No Work No Pay’ basis, and those payments should not be mandatory across all OFWs.
Some Filipinos also stated that they haven’t even benefitted from their payments at PhilHealth even if they have already paid for it dutifully for almost 20 years.
However, several OFWs also stated that the payments are for the welfare of OFWs and their family members in case they are in the Philippines and are in need of treatment.
