REPUBLIC ACT NO.

10606

"National Health Insurance Act of 1995"

The program seeks to give all Filipinos access to affordable, high-quality healthcare services as well as
health insurance coverage. The government subsidizes the poor families' premium contributions
under this program, which are determined by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty
Reduction. Seniors who are not currently insured by the program are also given coverage through the
NHIP. Additionally, they are covered by the No Balance Billing Policy, which prohibits charging poor
patients any fees or charges above the package rates.

Basically, this act is a health financing system that is designed to pool funds to provide access to quality
affordable personal health services for All Filipinos based on their health needs, regardless of their socio-
economic status. Even the healthiest Filipino is at risk of a medical emergency. While some can afford to
pay yung entire bill nila even for private healthcare, marami ring  Filipinos ang nahihirapan especially for
large unexpected costs. Pwede etong maglead to financial burden not ony sa sarili nila but also to their
whole family. One way to protect themselves from financial burden of medical-related expenses is with a
comprehensive health insurance plan. Through this act, equity and social solidarity through pooling of risks
and funds is provided. It is a public health fund na may sapat na resources para magplan and to effectively
meet yung health needs ng entire population, not just a selected few. Yung health benefits na matatanggap
mo will depend on how sick you are, not on how wealthy you are.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), through this act tells that senior citizens are mandatorily
covered by the state health insurer and that some of them don’t even need to pay any premiums for this
coverage. Filipino citizens residing in the Philippines na 60 years old and above ay covered under this act. A
senior citizen who is confined in an accredited public hospital will be able to avail of the No-Balance Billing
Policy (NBBP). Generally, this means that in a public hospital, seniors need not pay anything upon
discharge. It aims to reduce patients' out-of-pocket expense to ensure financial risk protection not only for
senior citizens, but also indigent, sponsored, domestic worker or kasambahay, and lifetime members.

Health insurance is intended to help cover expenses that people probably can't afford to pay on their
own if they become sick unexpectedly. Another thing is that it makes it easier for individuals to keep
from getting sick in the first place. Having health insurance makes it easier for everyone to access and
pay for routine and preventive health care.

Everyone, especially the poor are facing a significant financial burden due to the high expense of medical
care. It’s important to have health insurance as a safety net. Health care can be very expensive. Malaki itong
financial burden. Surgery, emergency care, prescription drugs, lab work, scans and examinations – these
sorts of costs can add up very quickly, nakakaoverwhlem. They can even be high enough to cause
individuals to turn down care that they need but can’t afford out-of-pocket. With health insurance, they are
not facing those costs as an individual; meron silang insurance that will help them cover the costs.  The other
reason it’s important to have health insurance is that mas magiging madali para sayo to keep from getting
sick in the first place. Kapag may health insurance ka, mas Madali sayo maaccess yung routine and
preventive health care. This includes:

 Annual checkups
 Vaccinations
 Blood tests and lab work
 Scans and screenings

These all play a role in keeping an individual healthy, and syempre madadiagnose agad yung mga illness na
maaaring meron ka as soon as possible.