Why retirees need LMP ID to enjoy PhilHealth perks

This is in response to lawyer Mafeo R. Vibal’s letter on his failure to avail himself of PhilHealth benefits for his wife because he was not able to present his Lifetime Member ID card.

We sincerely apologize for the unfortunate incident, but we would like to inform Vibal that the LMP ID card is indeed a requirement in the availment of PhilHealth benefits. The ID serves as proof that the member has completed at least 120 monthly premium contributions, including those remitted under Medicare, and has reached the age of retirement. It also contains essential information like the member’s signature and photograph, items that are not usually found in other PhilHealth cards.

Since the year of confinement was not mentioned in the letter, we presume that it was in September of this year and that Vibal has acquired his LMP ID by now. If such is the case, we wish to inform him that he can still avail himself of PhilHealth benefits for as long as he submits the claim documents directly to the hospital where his wife was confined, within 60 days upon discharge from the hospital.

We acknowledge his suggestion that we notify at once the retirees who qualify for the Lifetime Membership Program (LMP) so they can immediately apply for their LMP ID. In 2010, we issued Circular No. 28, s-2010, emphasizing that the enrollment of retiring employees, both from the private and government sectors, shall be facilitated by the employers at least three months prior to the employee’s date of retirement.

Likewise, the employer’s human resource management office, through its representative, shall ensure that the documentary requirements such as the duly accomplished PhilHealth Member Registration Form, two pieces of the latest 1” x 1” photo of member, approved retirement application, copy of senior citizen’s ID and other documents are submitted to PhilHealth for processing. Since the mechanism is already in place, rest assured that we will strengthen its implementation to facilitate the issuance of LMP IDs to retirees through the help of their employers.

We also want to assure Inquirer readers, like Vibal, that we remain focused on our mission to provide our members, especially the elderly ones, with what they are entitled to. In fact, we recently spearheaded the celebration of Elderly Week along with other government agencies providing social protection programs for the country’s elderly.

Should Vibal have more questions, we invite him to call our Corporate Action Center at (02)4417442.

—DR. ISRAEL FRANCIS A. PARGAS,

OIC-vice president, Corporate Affairs Group,

Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)