Awareness and Availment of PhilHealth Benefits: The Context of Two Selected Cities In Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Abstract

The Philippine government works to provide Universal Health Care to all Filipinos through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Nonetheless, discrepancies in access to health care remained in the country, with high levels of out-of-pocket expenditure. With this, the government passed laws to address these issues. However, several studies revealed a low level of awareness among Filipinos with existing PhilHealth. As a result, this study examined the level of awareness and extent of availment of Philhealth benefits among community residents. The study utilized the descriptive-correlational design. The data collection was made through the use of questionnaires. Data were elicited from 252 respondents aged 21-59 from the top two urban and rural barangays of the Cities of Laoag and Batac. Respondents are revealed to be somewhat aware of the PhilHealth benefits while respondents’ extent of availment was never utilized. The findings suggest that only the sex, place of residence, occupation, educational attainment, and monthly income have a significant relationship with their level of awareness of the PhilHealth benefits. The extent of availment has significant relationship with age, sex, educational attainment, monthy income, and length of membership on PhilHealth. The level of awareness and extent of availment of the benefits by PhilHealth have a significant relationship as well. Hence, people should be made aware of the benefits that could avail as stipulated by Universal Health Care in the country.