THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it approved the release of P25.16 billion for the insurance premiums of qualified indigents enrolled with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
The release will cover one year of premiums for around 8.4 million indigents.
“Indigent persons are those that have no visible means of income, or whose income is insufficient for family subsistence, as identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), based on specific criteria,” the DBM said.
The funds will be drawn from the 2023 General Appropriations Act.
In April, the DBM approved the release of P42.93 billion to cover one year of health insurance premiums of over 8.5 million senior citizens.
The DBM has said it allocated over P100 billion to implement the National Health Insurance Program this year. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson