SENATE President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri questioned the move allowing foreign nationals to join the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) program.

During plenary deliberations on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and its attached agencies on Wednesday, Zubiri said foreigners “do not pay taxes here. In other countries, unless you are a permanent resident, you cannot get the free health care that is given to them.”

Congress appropriates funds to subsidize PhilHealth insurance to certain sectors of society.

Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2015 between the PhilHealth and the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), qualified foreign retirees who are registered with the PRA or former Filipinos may enroll as an Informal Economy member to gain access to medical care services in the country.

The MoU aims to further strengthen the collaboration between the two government agencies to promote the country as a retirement haven for foreigners.

Interested foreign retirees must submit a PhilHealth Member Registration Form for Foreign Nationals to the PRA Head Office in Makati City or to any of its satellite offices nationwide. Requirements for their enrollment are a Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) and a granted permanent residency status pursuant to Section 9 (d) of Executive Order 1037.