ABOUT 36,000 indigents in Cebu City can now avail of the special insurance program of the Philippine Health Insurance in Central Visayas (Philhealth 7).
Cebu City Michael Rama yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement with Philhealth 7 to renew their insurance coverage for one year.
The sponsorship took effect July 1, 2012 and is valid until December 31, 2013.
Last year鈥檚 contract covered 30,000 beneficiaries.
鈥淧hilhealth sponsorship is good for indigents since it鈥檚 a 鈥楴o Balance Billing Policy鈥�. They don鈥檛 have to spend anything from their pokcets,鈥� said Marie Beatrix Elias, social information officer II of Region 7.
The Cebu City Council authorized Mayor Rama to sign up with Philhealth but asked for a copy of the list of beneficiaries to be posted in the barangay halls of all 80 barangays of the city.
Catherine Yso, former DSWS head, told the council that beneficiaries should be earning less than P5,000 in combined monthly income and e endorsed by barangay officials to qualify for Philhealth coverage.
A profile was taken of 2012鈥檚 37,000 beneficiaries.
The survey started in November 2011 and lasted about five months, which caused a delay in the renewal of their Philhealth coverage.
Earlier Councilor Ronald Cuenco, who heads the council鈥檚 health committee, said about 85 percent of the beneficiaries were renewed from last year鈥檚 list while the rest were new beneficiaries.
Cebu City鈥檚 health program is partly subsidized by Philhealth.
The city government allocates P22.2 million for the enrollment of 37,000 indigent families.
The same amount is put up by Philhealth as counterpart in the program./Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao