Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (PPAB)

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte says solo parents are now entitled to free health services under the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) after the release of new guidelines on the law expanding economic benefits for single mothers and fathers.

Under Philhealth Circular No. 2024-0020, published last September, the state health insurer’s coverage is automatic and applies to both working and non-working solo parents.

Villafuerte said solo parents were also eligible to avail of the PhilHealth Konsulta Package, and an accredited PhilHealth Konsulta Provider of their choice.

The release of new guidelines comes after the enactment of Republic Act (RA) No. 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act.

“Alongside a monthly cash subsidy for single moms and dads earning the minimum wage or below, and the 10% discount plus exemption from the 12% value-added tax (VAT) on certain essential purchases, single dads and moms are now entitled to free PhilHealth coverage,” said Villafuerte, a lead author of RA No. 11861.

He pointed out that PhilHealth’s automatic coverage to solo parents was aligned with the law’s mandate to support the “natural and primary rights and duty of solo parents in rearing their children”.

This is in the form of providing their basic needs and extending to them assistance in social services and welfare benefits with the hopes of uplifting their status and circumstances.

Outside of benefits under PhilHealth, Villafuerte said solo parents may also avail of the 10 percent discount and VAT exemption on their purchases of milk, diapers, and doctor-prescribed medicines for their kids six years of age and below.

Solo parents are entitled to the same privileges on their purchases of branded or generic medicines, vaccines, and medical supplements—provided that these are medically prescribed by attending physicians for treating diseases, illnesses, and injuries, with prescriptions in the names of the qualified children.

Under RA No. 11861, solo parents who earn minimum wages or below will also get a higher monthly cash aid of P1,000 each from their respective local government units (LGUs).

As indicated in the law, these benefits can only be availed through presenting the Solo Parent Identification Cards (SPICs) and Booklets that were issued to them by their Solo Parents Offices (SPOs) or Solo Parent Divisions (SPDs) in their cities or municipalities.

A study by the Department of Health (DOH) and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) estimated that there are about 14 to 15 million solo parents in the country.