January 11th, 2007 
Arelle V. White 
In February 2006, my dad was diagnosed of Aplastic Anemia, a failure of the bone marrow to function normally to produce blood ( http://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/aplastic_anemia.html ). It is an extremely difficult sickness which resulted to my dad’s immediate weakening and weight loss. And on top of it, it is highly expensive to treat and requires personal/immediate family members’ round the clock TLC (tender loving care).
His first hospitalization bill and medicines amounted to more than P 300,000.00 (he’s been back to the hospital thrice, and is currently home resting and recovering with weekly visits to his hematologist). As a Senior Citizen and a Philhealth member, he is entitled to at least 20% discount and other benefits. So, that is a good thing, and our cousin from the Billing Department of the hospital who knows well about Philhealth and OWWA, informed us that if we use my brother’s Owwa Medicare, the deduction could be more than 100% bigger than if we use my dad’s Philhealth ( http://www.philhealth.gov.ph/owp.htm ).
True enough its bigger. Had we used my dad’s Philhealth, the benefit would be P30,000.00plus, which is really good, but with my brothers’, it went up to P80,000.00plus, even better!
How did my dad benefit from my married brothers’ Owwa Medicare? He is a Senior Citizen who is qualified to be a beneficiary.
What did the Hospital require to facilitate the benefit? They asked for a Certificate of Eligibility as supporting document.
To do this, it required the following documentations which my sis-in-law and i personally brought to the Philhealth-Owwa Medicare Shaw Blvd. branch and was efficiently and quickly processed by their staff:
1. Original Letter of Request by my brother to OWWA to include my father as a beneficiary.
2. Birth Certificate of my brother proving he is my fathers’ son 
3. Photocopy of his (a) Passport, (b) 2 Valid I.D’s, (c) Official Receipt of Philhealth-Owwa Medicare membership Payment. (d) Philhealth I.D
That’s it, if i recall them correctly. As soon as these requirements were given, it was immediately facilitated and was shortly released the Certificate of Eligibility. We submitted it to the hospital, and shortly after a few days, the check amounting to more than P80,000.00 was delivered via Postal mail to my brothers’ residential address.
How nice! The P50k is indeed a big difference and a great help. Thanks to OWWA and Philhealth! Truely a job well done!
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