Hontiveros welcomes signing into law of automatic PhilHealth coverage for PWDs

Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros today hailed the signing of a new law providing mandatory PhilHealth coverage for persons with disability (PWDs) in the whole country as "a great victory for the vulnerable."

Hontiveros, the co-sponsor and co-author of the measure in the Senate, said that the new Republic Act No.11228 is an "important reform towards greater social protection and health assistance for PWDs, and allows us to better help them address their daily struggles and expenses."

"We welcome this new law and hope that, through better access to quality healthcare, the country can better serve the 1.4 million Filipinos living with disability and help them become healthy citizens who contribute to nation-building," she said.

She added that the new law complements the recently-approved Universal Health Care Act, "so that no one will be left behind in the country's drive towards a progressive, affordable and effective health care system for all."

Under the new law, all PWDs in the country will be automatically included under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) of the PhilHealth. Exclusive packages for PWDS will be developed by PhilHealth "that will address their specific health and development needs.

The premium contributions for PWDs under the new law will be shouldered by the national government unless they are employed, in which case the government and the employer will equally pay for such contributions. Government funds for the contributions will be sourced from collections under the Sin Tax Law.

Hontiveros said that the services offered by the new law will go a long way in helping defray the daily expenses of PWDs in medical care, noting that a majority of PWDs in the country are living in poverty.

"It is only just for the state to ensure that those faced with unique challenges in their lives, like PWDs, will have more in law and be provided with more protection," she said.