Recently, the Philippine government established a medical allowance of ₱7,000 for its employees to enhance their healthcare needs and the overall welfare of all employees. The introduction of this benefit is part of the government’s initiative to improve employee compensation packages and their health and wellness focus.
What is the ₱7,000 Medical Allowance?
The ₱7,000 medical allowance is an added monetary benefit newly approved for government workers in the Philippines as extra medical assistance in defraying expenses for medications, check-ups, consultations, and other medical services. The benefit is designed to enable government employees to lessen some of the financial burdens imposed by health-related expenses.
Who is Eligible for the Medical Allowance?
In a nutshell, the medical allowance is given to regular employees of the government, including permanent employees, casual employees with plantilla positions, contractual employees with government contracts for periods of at least six months of continuous service, and employees of national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). However, workers classified as job order and consultants may not be entitled to this benefit, as the policy covers government workers who possess an employer-employee relationship.
How Will the Allowance Be Implemented?
The ₱7,000 medical allowance is to be implemented through the following steps. The eligible employees will be granted the allowance automatically without any application being required from them. The amount shall be given annually together with the regular salary or through a separate payroll system. The fund for the allowance shall be sourced from the annual budget allocation of each agency. As far as possible, government agencies are instructed to ensure proper fund management and timely release.
Benefits of the Medical Allowance
This new benefit reaps several advantages to government workers: medical expense assistance, improved access to healthcare services, reduction of their out-of-pocket medical expenses, and general encouragement and increase in productivity among employees. The medical allowance represents the government’s intention of supporting its members with all the challenges compounded by rising healthcare costs.
How to Claim the Medical Allowance
Employees will not apply for the allowance since it will be processed automatically by their respective government agencies; however, workers are encouraged to always check with their agency’s human resources department for any additional instructions with respect to its release.
Final Thoughts
With the introduction of a ₱7,000 medical allowance, employee welfare of government workers in the Philippines is now taken up in earnest. Besides providing fiscal relief, the introduction of this benefit further shows the commitment of the government to the health care of its employees. Further inquiries on the implementation schedule and guidelines should be directed by the government employees to their respective agencies.