THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 11357, which amends Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act. A key provision of the bill exempts Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from mandatory PhilHealth contributions—an amendment long championed by OFW Party List Representative Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino.
House Bill 11357, officially titled An Act Strengthening the Philippine Healthcare System to Achieve Efficiency and Equity and to Improve Public Health Emergency Preparedness, introduces significant changes to the UHC Act. One of its major amendments stipulates that OFWs, both land- and sea-based, will no longer be required to pay direct premium contributions. Instead, the national government will shoulder 50% of the contributions, while the remaining 50% will be covered by their employers.
Rep. Magsino, a principal author of the bill, initially filed House Bill No. 369 in July 2022, advocating for the exemption of OFWs from PhilHealth contributions. She argued that migrant workers typically have health insurance coverage provided by their host countries. Following extensive consultations with PhilHealth, she also introduced House Bill No. 6116, which proposed preferential premium rates for OFWs under the National Health Insurance Program. Both measures were consolidated into the now-passed House Bill 11357.
“Marami ang nag-aakala na ang mga OFW, lalo na iyong mga matagal nang nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa, ay may kaya sa buhay. Pero hindi nila alam na hindi lahat ng OFWs ay nakakaluwag para patawan ng dagdag gastos sa PhilHealth, lalo na ang mga nasa elementary occupations,” Magsino said. “Marami sa ating OFWs ay may medical coverage na sa bansang kanilang pinagtatrabahuhan kaya’t magiging dagdag pabigat kung sila’y mandatory contributors pa sa PhilHealth. Ako’y nagpapasalamat na narinig ng ating mga kasamahan sa Kamara ang panawagan natin para sa mga OFWs.”
The bill also provides that unpaid premium contributions of distressed migrant workers and overseas Filipinos, as defined under Republic Act No. 8042 (Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995), as amended by RA No. 10022, will not be collected upon their return to the Philippines. Additionally, failure to pay PhilHealth contributions will no longer be grounds for denying an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), ensuring that migrant workers are not unfairly burdened by financial obligations tied to their employment status.
“Removing this financial burden on our OFWs is both equitable and justified, considering the unique nature of their overseas employment,” Magsino added. “Our OFWs make up a significant segment of the Philippine labor force, contributing around 10% of our GDP annually through their remittances. This amendment to the UHC Act is a recognition of their vital role in our economy and a small way of giving back to those who support countless Filipino families.”
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