PhilHealth: Register retiring employees

CEBU, Philippines – Retiring employees may now be automatically enrolled to the Lifetime Member Program without personally going to PhilHealth office.

PhilHealth, through Circular No. 28, series of 2010, is requiring employers to facilitate the application of their retiring employees to the said program at least three months prior to the date of their retirement.

The Lifetime Member Program is intended for those who have reached the age of retirement as provided for by law and have paid at least 120 monthly contributions.

As soon as the employee’s retirement application has been approved by the employer, the authorized representative of the Human Resource Management Office of the company shall submit to PhilHealth two copies of duly accomplished PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF); two pieces recent 1×1 picture; photocopy of the retiring employee’s birth certificate or any two valid government-issued IDs, and the approved retirement application duly certified by the employer.

Private sector employers need only issue a certificate indicating that the retiree is employed in their company for at least 10 years and whose PhilHealth contributions have been deducted and remitted during the period. Leave of absences without pay incurred by the employee should also be included in the certification.

In the same manner, employers from the government sector should also issue a certificate indicating the history of PhilHealth contributions of the retiree with corresponding official receipt numbers for payments made while in service. Incurred leave of absences without pay must also be indicated. In addition, a duly signed Service Record should also be given to the retiring government employee.

The lifetime member ID and member data record which will be issued by PhilHealth shall be released by the employer’s authorized representative to the retiring member on or before the last day of the employee’s service to the company. — /WAB (FREEMAN)