28 MAY 2014
ra

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4517

HOUSE BILL NO.__*"

Introduced by Honorable MARK A. VILLAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In our culture, we hold in high regard the welfare of the elderly. No less than the
supreme law of the land recognizes the importance of this sector. In fact, the 1987
Constitution specifically states that “The family has the duty to care for its elderly members
but the State may also do so through just programs of social security.” (Article XV, Section
4) It further states that “There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick,
elderly, disabled, women, and children.” (Article XIl!, Section 11)

Faithful to the constitutional mandate, past Congresses enacted laws benefiting our
elderly in order to have a life of comfort and security. Significantly, one of them is Republic
Act No. 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 which provides an array of
benefits, privileges and assistance for our elderly.

A significant feature of the law is the mandatory Philhealth coverage for indigent
senior citizens which enable them to avail of health services, free from “out-of-pocket”
expenses. With the qualifying condition of indigency, still many senior citizens are deprived
of the benefits provided by the National Health Insurance.

Hence, this bill is proposed to remove the limitation on the mandatory Philhealth
coverage for senior citizens, Under this bill, all senior citizens, whether indigent or not, shall
be enrolled under Philhealth. The funds necessary to ensure their Philhealth coverage shall
be sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund.

With the passage of this measure, more and more senior citizens will be more
secure in the remaining years of their lives.

In view of the foregoing reasons, the enactment of this bill is urgently sought.

Cte

MARK A. VILL)


6

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Sessiop 17

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable MARK A. VILLAR

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY PHILHEALTH COVERAGE FOR ALL
SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432,
AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE “EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 5, sub-paragraph h(2) of Republic Act No. 7432, as
amended is hereby further amended to read as follows

"SEC. 5. Government Assistance. - The government shall provide the
following

0K

"(h) Additional Government Assistance

) 0x
*(2) Mandatory Philhealth Coverage

“All [indigent] senior citizens shall be covered by the national health
insurance program of Philhealth. FUNDS NECESSARY TO ENSURE
THE ENROLLMENT OF ALL SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE
SOURCED FROM THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE FUND OF
PHILHEALTH [The LGUs where the indigent senior citizen resides
shall allocate the necessary funds to ensure the enrollment of their
indigent senior citizens), in accordance with pertinent laws and
regulations


"(3) xxx,

SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly,

SEC. 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,