4Ps Parent Leaders Attend PhilHealth ‘SHInES’ Campaign in Bohol

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) parent leaders in the town of Jagna, Bohol attended the Social Health Insurance Education Series (SHInES) campaign of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) held last April 2, 2019.

Parent Leaders joined the half-day activity together with the Municipal Health Officer (MHO), the staff from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) and the Pantawid Pamilya Municipal Links (MLs).

“We tapped you for the campaign because you will play crucial roles in the information dissemination,” said PhilHealth Regional Vice-President Lourdes Diocson during her welcome remarks.

“You will now be our advocate and we hope you will share the information to your co-4Ps beneficiaries,” said Diocson.

The participants were thoroughly oriented on the various aspects of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) like its history, membership registration, payment of premium contributions, benefits and among others.

“Naa nako idea kabahin sa PhilHealth labi kay ang mga 4Ps beneficiaries maka-avail man sa No Balance Billing pero tungod aning activity mas napun-an pa akong kahibalo karun kay natubag ug naklaro ang akong mga pangutana (I already have an idea about PhilHealth especially that 4Ps beneficiaries can avail of the No Balance Billing but through this activity, I have gained more information which answered all my questions),” said Marissa Garay, a 4Ps parent leader from Brgy, Can-upao, Jagna.

The No Balance Billing (NBB) policy enables the vulnerable sectors like the 4Ps beneficiaries to pay no more in excess of their PhilHealth coverage when confined in government facilities. Popularly known as “Walang Dagdag Bayad”, the NBB sets as a condition that no direct medical expense shall be obtained from the patient for the duration of the confinement, which in effect makes treatment and care entirely free for the beneficiaries.

The SHInES campaign will also be conducted in other towns in Bohol targeting 4Ps parent leaders to become advocates.

Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that invests in the health and education of poor households particularly of children aged 0-18-year-old.

Households are provided with cash grants in exchange of complying with the conditionality of the program. This includes school attendance of at least 85% per month for children enrolled in the elementary or high school.

Children aged 5 and below would need to undergo preventive check-up as mandated by the Department of Health (DOH) and children enrolled in the elementary must receive deworming pills twice within the school year. Also, pregnant women must receive pre and post-natal care based on DOH protocol. Lastly, parent/s or guardians are required to attend the monthly Family Development Session (FDS).