LUCENA CITY, Quezon—A neophyte lady representative is urging President Aquino to sign into law a bill recently approved by the Senate mandating health-insurance coverage for all citizens aged 60 years and older in the country.
Fourth District Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan of Quezon hailed the approval of Senate Bill 712, which seeks to provide all older citizens a mandatory Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) coverage regardless of their economic status and removes the limitation under Republic Act 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 that covers only indigent elderly.
“I urge President Aquino to sign the bill into a law to fully realize the hopes of all the elderly Filipinos to be more secure in their health and medical needs in their most vulnerable years,” said Tan, who is the principal author of House Bill 4593 earlier approved on third and final reading in the House of Representatives.
Saying the bill is a token of appreciation to all the country’s elders who have made a significant contribution in society, Tan said being an indigent should not be a requisite for senior citizens to avail themselves of the mandatory Philhealth coverage. She said “the state has the responsibility to treat senior citizens with the respect and dignity they deserve because they have a significant role to play and contribution to make in the transformation of the country.”
“The forthcoming celebration of the week for elderly Filipinos will be made truly meaningful because of Senate Bill 712,” said Tan, a rural medical practitioner and staunch health advocate.
She said the national policies contained in both the constitution and the senior citizens act clearly provide that all the elderly shall be given preferential care and protection by the state.
“Our elderly have the treasure of wisdom, knowledge, values and experience that they can share with us, most especially the younger generation of Filipinos,” Tan said.
John Bello / Correspondent With PNA