Who can I add as a PhilHealth dependent?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
Under the Universal Health Care Act (RA 11223, 2019), every Filipino is automatically a PhilHealth member in their own right — so your spouse, your children, and your parents each already have their own coverage and no longer need to be your 'dependents' to be entitled to benefits. PhilHealth still records qualified dependents on your Member Data Record (MDR) for legacy benefit-availment purposes, so it is worth confirming that anyone listed is correct. The most reliable action today is to make sure each family member has their own PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN) and knows their own category (e.g. a senior parent is automatically covered under RA 10645; a person with disability is an indirect contributor). Update your MDR at any Local Health Insurance Office or the Member Portal.
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Frequently asked
Do I still need to declare dependents under UHC?
The dependent framework predates the UHC Act. Since RA 11223 made every Filipino an automatic member in their own right, a spouse, child, or parent is entitled to benefits through their own membership, not only as your dependent. Declaring and correctly listing dependents on your MDR still matters for record accuracy and certain benefit-availment rules, so keep the MDR updated — but no family member is left uncovered simply because they were never 'added' to your record.
My senior parent — do I add them as a dependent?
A senior citizen aged 60 and over is automatically covered as an indirect contributor under RA 10645 (2014), with premiums borne by the national government, so they have their own continuous coverage. The practical step is to make sure their own PhilHealth record and PIN are active (an OSCA/senior ID helps activate it), rather than relying on dependent status.
How do I update the dependents on my record?
Submit a PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF) reflecting the change at any Local Health Insurance Office or through the Member Portal, and check the updated MDR. Confirm names and relationships are spelled correctly — mismatches between the MDR and a hospital's records are a common reason a benefit is delayed.
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