SENATE, Pasay City — In a bid to plug gaps in PhilHealth registration and strengthen the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, Senator Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go has filed Senate Bill (SB) 2983 that will mandate the issuance of a health card to all Filipinos to provide them access to health care services under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).

Go explained that "(although) under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, all Filipinos are members of PhilHealth, many do not have a PhilHealth identification card.

"Many have difficulty availing their benefits because they do not have a physical ID. We want to ensure that everyone has clear access to health services," he pointed out.

Based on data from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, all 112.89 million Filipinos are covered by NHIP, but as of the end of 2023, only 96 percent were formally registered with PhilHealth, leaving approximately 4.52 million individuals without proper documentation.

"With SB 2983, PhilHealth will issue a health card for every Filipino. It is free and can be used anywhere in the country for NHIP benefits. Most importantly, health services will be easy and within reach," Go disclosed.

Go's proposed bill also ensures that the health card will be distributed in partnership with local government units (LGUs) but will not bear any partisan political features.