A senior citizen was shocked when he found out he was already dead based on the records of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Vonne Aquino reported on GMA News “24 Oras” on Wednesday that Efren Aguilar learned of his “death” when he accompanied his helper to a laboratory test at a hospital on August 21.
As the helper’s employer, she wrote the hospital information sheet and with his PhilHealth number.
It was there that he was told that he had died on September 15, 2016, based on PhilHealth records.
Actually nanlamig ako no’ng sinabing’ Patay na kayo’ e. Wala akong nasabing words siguro no’ng mga first few minutes noong pagkabigay sa’kin no’ng papel,” said Aguilar.
“Sabi ko, ‘Bakit nagka gano’n?’ Tinatanong ko sarili ko, ‘Ilan kaya kami na ginanito? Hindi lang siguro ako nag-iisa, marami kami nito,’” he added.
Aguilar said his last use of PhilHealth benefits was in 2012.
“Balak ko talaga magpunta ng PhilHealth para ayusin ‘to kasi anytime, lalo na at my age, I’ll be needing my PhilHealth, ‘di ba?” he added.
PhilHealth apologized to Aguilar when it found out what happened.
“Una, humihingi kami ng paumanhin kay Mr. Aguilar sa naging pagkakamali sa kaniyang record,” according to PhilHealth corporate communication senior manager Rey Balena.
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Senior citizen member declared dead in PhilHealth records
“Ang nangyari po ay maaaring may nagkaroon ng pagkakamali sa tagging ng data… Maaari din na encoding error ‘yan. Ano’t anuman, mayroon tayong paraan at solusyon para maitama ‘yan,” he said.
Balena also urged other PhilHealth members to let them know if there is a mistake in their record.
Earlier, senators grilled PhilHealth for its possibly “over-bloated” list of senior citizen beneficiaries that included minor members as young as three years old.
Senator Francis Tolentino questioned the agency’s list of senior citizens during the Senate hearing on the alleged corruption in the state insurer. The list allegedly included individuals who are below 60 years old.
Tolentino presented PhilHealth’s list of senior citizen members, which showed a certain Mora Dangdang Caramat is said to be 18 years old and an Amita Pason Taladbo who is said to be three years old.