I just learn that there is a PhilHealth lifetime membership for those who can reach the minimum required monthly payment by law (Thanks to OFIE M-Qatar Facebook Group).

To help our readers, I have made links and copied some of the useful content of PhilHealth below so that you could find out the information that you may be required upon application.

According to their website the following personnel are qualified to have their Lifetime membership:

The following members shall be entitled to PhilHealth’s lifetime coverage as Lifetime Members:

• Old-age retirees and pensioners of the GSIS, including uniformed and non-uniformed personnel of the AFP, PNP, BJMP and BFP who have reached the compulsory age of retirement before June 24, 1997, and retirees under Presidential Decree 408;
• GSIS disability pensioners prior to March 4, 1995;
• SSS pensioners prior to March 4, 1995:
• SSS permanent total disability pensioners;
• SSS death/survivorship pensioners
• SSS old-age retirees/pensioners;
• Uniformed members of the AFP, PNP, BFP and BJMP who have reached the compulsory age of retirement on or after June 24, 1997, being the effectivity date of RA 8291 which excluded them in the compulsory membership to the GSIS;
• Retirees and pensioners who are members of the judiciary;
• Retirees who are members of Constitutional Commissions and other constitutional offices;
• Former employees of the government and/or private sectors who have accumulated/paid at least 120 monthly premium contributions as provided for by law but separated from employment before reaching the age of 60 years old and thereafter have reached 60 years old;
• Former employees of the government and/or private sectors who were separated from employment without completing 120 monthly premium contributions but continued to pay their premiums as Individually Paying Members until completion of the required 120 monthly premium contributions and have reached 60 years old as provided for by law;
• Individually Paying Members, including SSS self-employed and voluntary members, who continued paying premiums to PhilHealth, have reached 60 years old and have met the required 120 monthly premiums as provided for by law;
• Retired underground mine workers who have reached the age of retirement as provided for by law and have met the required premium contributions.

And here are the requirements as shown in their website:

Submit the following to any PhilHealth Office nearest you:

1. Duly accomplished PhilHealth Membership Registration Form

2. Two (2) latest 1″ x 1″ ID picture

3. Certified True Copy (CTC) of the SSS or GSIS Retirement Certification or the following as applicable:

• For SSS Retirees/Pensioners:
• Printout of Death, Disability and Retirement (DDR) from any SSS office indicating that the type of claim is retirement in nature and the effectivity date of pension; and
• Printout of contributions issued by any SSS office indicating the latest contributions (if he/she retires after March 4, 1995.
• For GSIS Retirees – any of the following:
• Certification/Letter of Approval of Retirement from the GSIS indicating the effectivity date of retirement;
• Service Record issued by the employer/s indicating not less than 120 months of service excluding leave of absences without pay;
• Certification/retirement Gratuity from the employer indicating not less than 120 months of service.
• For AFP, PNP, BFP and BJMP Retirees/Pensioners – those who are in active military service until they retire at age 56 and those separated by retirement or other reasons prior to the said age but have reached the age of 60, shall submit any of the following:
• Statement of Services issued by previous employer indicating not less than 120 months of service excluding leave of absences without pay;
• Certification/Letter of Approval of Retirement from the GSIS indicating not less than 120 months of service;
• General, Bureau or Special Order indicating the effectivity date of retirement.

4. Certified true copy (CTC) of Birth Certificate or any two of the following:

• CTC of Baptismal Certificate
• CTC of Marriage Contract/Certificate
• Passport
• Driver’s License
• SSS Members ID
• Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR)
• Service Record/s
• Employee ID
• School records
• Voter’s ID
• Senior Citizens ID
• Duly notarized joint affidavit of two disinterested persons attesting to the fact of birth of the registrant

5. Any other valid documents acceptable by PhilHealth

Member will be issued his/her PhilHealth Lifetime Member Card which is a valid ID to be used in all PhilHealth transactions.

I believe that being a constant member of PhilHealth, will give you a long term health care after the age of 60. But please be noted that PhilHealth’s benefit is limited and cannot be the full source of your long term health care. My father is supported by PhilHealth (Part only) on his dialysis but it is only for a specified number of dialysis. What I am saying is that it is good to have PhilHealth and at the same time you need to think of an additional source of health care expenses at old age.

SSS and Philhealth alone is not enough to sustain our old age. Remember if you Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail.

This could be one of you goals when planning for your retirement age. Set your goals and start to invest.