TACLOBAN CITY - PhilHealth Regional Office 8 (PRO8) developed two incentives schemes namely PhilHealth: Pinoy Maagap sa Kalusugan 2006 and PhilHealth 1-2 Papromo 2006 to reward members under the individually Paying Program (IPP) who are paying their premiums regularly. The individually paying members (IPMs) include the self-employed and professionals in private practice, among others. They pay a flat rate premium of P100.00 per month payable quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

To qualify for the PhilHealth 1-2 Papromo 2006, an IMP will have to pay his/her annual premium of P1, 200 within the period January to March 2006. The yellow copy of the validated M15 (the payment form for those under the individually Paying Program) will be used as the raffle entry. There will be six (6) winners who will receive P1,200 each.

Another incentive schemes is the PhilHealth: Pinoy Maagap sa Kalusugan 2006 - Bigger prizes are at stake as there will be two (2) first prize winners who will receive P5,000 each, two (2) second prize winners to receive P3,000 each and two (2) third prize winners who will receive P2,000 each. All payments within the first quarter of 2006 will entitle the IPM to qualify for this category. Just like the first category, the validated yellow copy of the M15 will serve as raffle entry.

The raffle draw for both categories will be done sometime in April. When an IMPs name is drawn twice, he or she will receive the prize of bigger value. All payments whether it is made in a PhilHealth office, Post Office, PhilHealth Accredited Collecting Bank or PhilHealth Accredited Organized Group are valid for this contest. The winners for both categories will be notified through registered mail.

PRO 8 has been implementing this incentives schemes for their self-employed members since 2003. It has a positive impact not only in increasing collection in the informal sector but most importantly, it encourages IPMs to pay regularly.

Regularity in payments is very important to be able to avail of PhilHealth benefits. All PhilHealth members, IMPs included, and their qualified dependents can avail of the benefits provided that they have 3 monthly contributions within the immediate 6 months prior to availment. However, the maternity care related benefits require 9 monthly contributions within the 12-month period prior to availment.