Foster Children Now Qualified Dependents of Philhealth

(PIA) — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) announced that foster children are now qualified as dependents and are entitled to avail of the medical benefits under PhilHealth.

During the recent Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) 7 Forum, Atty. Karisma Agraviador, public relations officer of Philhealth, said dependent foster children may avail of PhilHealth benefits through the active membership of the foster parent without having to pay additional premium.

In a recent development, PhilHealth also came out with the new Circular No. 19-2014 that covers the entitlement to benefits of any foster child as qualified dependent of foster parent which is below 21 years old.

Foster children will continue to qualify as dependents of the foster parent until the last day of the validity of the parent’s Foster Family Care License, the expiration of the Foster Placement Authority (FPA) for the child, the child’s return to his or her biological parents, or when the child has been placed for adoption, said Agraviador.

The Foster Care Act of 2012 (RA 10165) defines foster child as a child placed under foster care, or the provision of a planned temporary substitute parental care to a child by a foster parent.

The foster parent and children must be duly licensed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

All PhilHealth members who become licensed foster parents shall be required to submit or present the Foster Family Care License and FPA as acceptable supporting documents when declaring a foster child as dependent, explained Agraviador.

In Central Visayas, PhilHealth has no record yet for foster children since this is a new law and it might take effect this year or next year. (rmn/hfg/PIA-7)