PhilHealth for OFWs and the family at home

Every Filipino is covered by PhilHealth under the Universal Health Care Act (Republic Act No. 11223). OFWs are direct contributors: the law lists “migrant workers” among the people who pay their own premium. In 2026 that premium is 5% of your monthly income, from PHP 500 to PHP 5,000 a month. Your qualified dependents at home, such as your spouse, young children and parents aged 60 or over, are covered through your membership.

What OFWs pay

PhilHealth Advisory No. 2026-0042 (signed 21 July 2026) says direct contributors, “including Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)”, pay “five percent (5.0%) of the monthly income”. The income counted has a floor of PHP 10,000 and a ceiling of PHP 100,000, so:

• if you earn PHP 10,000 a month or less, you pay PHP 500;
• if you earn between the two, you pay 5% of your income, for example PHP 1,250 on PHP 25,000;
• if you earn PHP 100,000 or more, you pay PHP 5,000.

Land-based OFWs pay the whole premium themselves (Circular No. 2020-0005). If you can’t show proof of your actual income, the UHC Act rules say PhilHealth charges you at the ceiling. Sea-based OFWs pay through the manning agency, and the premium is shared equally with the employer.

The full table is in our PhilHealth contribution table 2026. To work out your own figure, use the PhilHealth contribution calculator.

Paying from abroad

Advisory No. 2026-0042 says OFWs can pay monthly, quarterly, every six months or yearly, to PhilHealth’s accredited collecting agents “both local and overseas”. PhilHealth’s list of collecting agents names Bank of Commerce, Development Bank of the Philippines and Ventaja International Corporation for overseas collection, and the PhilHealth Member Portal takes card, GCash and Maya payments.

Under Circular No. 2026-0011, self-paying members, which includes OFWs other than sea-based workers, must settle each year’s premiums by 31 December, and can settle the year before without interest until 31 January. Step by step: how to pay PhilHealth online.

Registering and keeping your record right

Circular No. 2026-0011 says self-paying members register by filing PhilHealth’s member registration form at a PhilHealth office, or online through the PhilHealth Member Portal or the eGovPH app. If you have never registered, see PhilHealth online registration. Your Member Data Record (MDR) shows your details and your declared dependents; keep it up to date so your family can use your benefits. Advisory No. 2026-0042 says you can update it at any PhilHealth office or through the Member Portal. See the PhilHealth Member Data Record.

Who in the family is covered

The UHC Act rules and PhilHealth’s dependents page count these as your qualified dependents:

• your legal spouse, if not an active member;
• your unmarried, unemployed children below 21, including illegitimate, adopted and stepchildren, and foster children;
• children 21 and over with a congenital or acquired disability;
• your parents aged 60 or over who are not members themselves, and parents with a permanent disability at any age.

They must be declared on your record. See our guide to PhilHealth dependents.

Senior citizens are covered in their own right under Republic Act No. 10645, with the premium paid from government funds. A senior who still earns keeps paying. More in PhilHealth for senior citizens.

What PhilHealth pays for

• Hospital stays. PhilHealth pays a set amount per illness or procedure, called a case rate. See PhilHealth case rates.
• Primary care. YAKAP, which PhilHealth calls “an evolution of the PhilHealth Konsulta Program”, covers consultations, set lab tests, some cancer screening and outpatient medicines. See PhilHealth YAKAP.
• Maternity. PhilHealth has maternity packages for care in hospitals and in non-hospital and outpatient facilities. See the PhilHealth maternity benefit.
• Other benefit packages are in our guide to PhilHealth benefits.

Using PhilHealth when you come home

PhilHealth benefits are paid through hospitals and clinics it accredits, and it publishes its lists of accredited facilities on philhealth.gov.ph. Check the hospital or clinic is on the list before you rely on your cover, make sure your premiums are paid up, and ask the hospital what it needs from you to file the PhilHealth claim. If you are planning the move home, our coming home guides cover the rest.

Where PhilHealth stops

PhilHealth pays a set amount for each case. If the hospital bill is bigger than that, the patient’s family may have to pay the difference, unless other cover picks it up. Families often look at private health insurance or an HMO for that gap. Our guide explains how HMOs and health insurance differ. See also health insurance in the Philippines.

PhilHealth is one of three government programmes that OFWs commonly pay into, with SSS and Pag-IBIG.