Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

nouse BLLNo.__5338

Introduced by Hon. Jerry P, Trefias

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The approval of Republic Act No. 10645 is a significant victory in the advocacy for
promoting and strengthening the rights and privileges of senior citizens. The new law, which
makes all senior citizens mandatory members of Philhealth, is a landmark legislation for the
elderly produced by the 16" Congress.

R.A, No, 10645 effectively amended the Senior Citizens Act (Republic Act No, 7432), as
amended by the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 (Republic Act No. 9994), by giving
mandatory Phithealth coverage to all senior citizens without qualification, The previous law only
grants mandatory Philhealth coverage to indigent senior citizens, excluding millions of the
elderly from automatic membership. However, there is also a need to further amend the National
Health Insurance Act of 1995 (Republic Act No, 7875), as amended by Republic Act No, 10606,
in order to harmonize our laws relating to the Philhealth benefits of senior citizens

Now that all senior citizens are considered as members of Philhealth, it is necessary to
amend the National Health Insurance Act so that senior citizens who are still working and who
are already enrolled members would no longer be required to pay Philhealth premiums. It is only
fair and equitable to do so since all senior citizens who are not enrolled in Philhealth are now
automatically covered as a result of the enactment of R.A. No, 10645

The ratio behind R.A. No, 10645 is to provide healthcare benefits to our senior citizens
without imposing an additional financial burden on their part, regardless of their financial status
We owe this privilege to our elderly who have devoted their youth and prime years to build the
great democratic and republican nation that we enjoy today. As one of the primary authors of
R.A. No, 10645 in Congress, and as a strong advocate for greater senior citizen benefits, I highly
recommended the approval of this legislative measure.

JERRY



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS,
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO,, 5338

Introduced by Hon, Jerry P. Trefias

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

assembled:

Section 1. Section 4 (s) of Republic Act No, 7875, as amended, is hereby amended to

AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT N

read as follows:

Section 2. Sect

“SEC. 4, Definition of Tenas, ~ For the purpose of this Act, the
following terms shall be defined as follows

s. Member — Any person whose premiums have been regularly
paid co the National Health insurance Program who may be a
paying member, a sponsored member, or a lifetime member. ALL
CITIZENS UPON REACHING THE AGE OF 60 ARE
AUTOMATIC MEMBERS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
REPUBLIC ACT NO, 10645.

xxx”

‘1 12 of the same Act is hereby amended is read as follows
“SEC 12. Entitlement to Benefits.~ A member whose premium
contributions for at least three (3) months have been paid within
(6) months prior to the first day of availment. including those
of the dependents, shall be entitled to the Lenefits of the
Program: Provided, That such mem!ser can show tit contributions
have been made with sufficient regularity: Proviaed, further, That

D . 7878, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE “NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE ACT OF 1995”, AS AMENDED


re the member is not currently subject to legal penalties as provided

2 for in Section 44 of this Act.

3 “The following need not pay the monthly contributions to be
entitled to the Program’s benelits:

5 “(a) Retirees and pensioners of the SSS and GSIS prior to the

6 effectivity of this Act, and

7 “(b) Lifetime members.”

8 “(c) ALL SENIOR CITIZE!

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10 Section 3, Section 28 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows’

1 “SEC. 28, Contributions. - All members who can afford to pay,

12 EXCEPT SENIOR CITIZENS, shall contribute to the Fund, in

13 accordance with a reasonable, equitable and progressive

4 contribution schedule to be determined by the Corporation on the

15 basis of applicable actuarial studies and in accordance with the

16 following guidelines:

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20 Section 4. Repealing Clause. ~ All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, including rules
21 and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.
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23 Section 5. Effectivity: - This Act shall take effect fifteen (5) days after its publication in
24 the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.

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26 Approved,

a