a i a i ati Dea ME pee eee

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

THIRTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3119

Introduced by Honorable CARMEN L. CARI

Explanatory Note

This bill seeks to uplift the minimum standard of living of all
hhousehelpers by requiting their mandatory membership in the National Health
Insurance Program (NHIP) under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
@Phithealth).

It seeks 10 address the apparent and grave discrimination against this
significant sector of the labor force, by upholding their dignity and protecting
their rights and privileges as workers. It endeavors to provide health insurance
‘coverage to this marginalized and often neglected sector of society. This
Proposal aims to ensure for them quality health care services that is affordable,
acceptable, availble and accessible.

‘The health care services under Philhealth mandated by law is supposedly
to cover all citizens of the Philippines. However, under Republic Act 7655
‘otherwise known as “An Act Increasing the Minimum Wage of Househelpers,”
4 houschelper in Metro Manila and in highly urbanized cities receives
‘minimum of Eight Hundred Pesos (P800.00) a month and a minimum of Five
‘Hundred (P500.00) a month for those in other municipalities.

Under the Social Secutity System Law, only thow houschelpers who are
receiving at least One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) a 1

Health Insurance Act of 1995 (R.A. 7875) provides th
private sector covered by the SSS are immediately
‘members of the NHIP.

‘employees in the
omatically made



A look into the provisions of the above laws will show that said
‘compulsory and mandatory coverage is available only to private employees ot
laborers receiving a minimum wage of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) a
month, It therefore excludes from coverage the househelpers who ae paid less

than the above minimum amount for membership in the SSS, and therefore, in
the Philhealth coverage.
This discrepancy runs counter to the mandatory and compulsory

coverage of all citizens of the Philippines in the Program ax required by law. All
employers of househelpers receiving a minimum wage of less thn One
‘Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) a month is hereby mandated to enroll ssid
houschelpers under the Program and pay the required cintributions to
Philhealth.

Jn view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is ea

ly sought,

Toryouy 2: Ym

CARMEN L. CARI


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

THIRTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,___ 3119 _

Introduced by Honorable CARMEN L. CARI

REQUIRING THE MANDATORY COVERAGE OF ALL
HOUSEHELPERS IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM (NHIP) UNDER THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH
INSURANCE CORPORATION (PHILHEALTH).
Beit enacted by th Senate and Hause of Represents of the Pipe in Cong esl

SECTION 1. Objective. — ‘This Act secks to provide for the
mandatory coverage of houschelpers in the National Health Insurance Program
(NHIP) under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth).

SECTION 2, Declaration of Policy. Section \!, Article XII of the
1987 Constitution declares that the State shall adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development which hall endeavor to make
‘essentials goods, health and other social services available all the people at
affordable cost. Priotity for the needs of the undemprivleyed, sick eldedy,
disabled women and children shall be recognized. Likewise, 1 shall be the policy
Of the State to provide free medical care to paupers.

SECTION 3, Coverage. — All houschelpers shall be covered by the
Program regardless of the wages they receive from their employers; Provided,
‘That all houschelpers currently eligible for benefits under the Social Security:


System ($SS) shall automatically be made members under the National Health
Insurance Program (NHIP)

SECTION 4. Enrollment. — All houschelpers shall entoll in the
Program in order for them to be placed under coverage that entitles them to
avail of the benefits and financial assistance provided therein, Provided, That the
beneficiaries under this Act shall be issued appruprate documentation
specifying eligibility to benefits and indicating how benctit was obtained or is
‘being maintained.

SECTION 5. Contributions. - The employers of the houschelpers
shall pay the monthly contribution as provided for by law; Provided, That the
‘monthly contsbutions shall not exceed three (3%) percent of the househelpers’
‘monthly salary and shall not be deducted from the later.

SECTION 6. Penalties for Violation. ~ Vailure of the employer
to remit to Philhealth his corresponding contsibution shall not be reason for
depriving the beneficiary of the benefits under the law, Such failure will
however, subject the erring or negligent employer to the penalties provided by
law, without prejudice to the right of Philhealth to collect full reimbursement
for honoring a propery filed claim.

SECTION 7. Any law, executive order, etter of instruction, of
any part thereof, which is inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act is
hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 8 This Act shal take effect fftcen (15) days aftr its
publication in the Official Gazette, or in at least two (2) newspapers of general

circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,