OWWA Medical Assistance for Former OFW

Are you a former OFW in need of medical assistance? If so, you may be eligible for coverage through the OWWA medical assistance Program. Read on to learn more about this program and how to apply.

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Introduction

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is a government agency that provides Medical Assistance to former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The OWWA Medical Assistance Program is open to all former OFWs who have returned to the Philippines and are in need of Medical assistance

What is OWWA Medical Assistance?

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is a Philippine government agency that provides social and welfare services to migrant workers and their families. One of these services is the OWWA Medical Assistance Program, which offers financial assistance to former migrant workers who need medical treatment in the Philippines.

To be eligible for the OWWA Medical Assistance Program, you must be a former migrant worker who has an active OWWA membership. You must also have a confirmed diagnosis from a licensed medical practitioner, and you must be registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

If you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you can apply for the OWWA Medical Assistance Program by filling out an application form and submitting it to the nearest OWWA regional office. Once your application has been approved, you will be given a letter of authorization that you can take to any participating hospital or clinic in the Philippines.

The OWWA Medical Assistance Program covers up to PHP 10,000 (roughly USD 200) worth of medical expenses per year. This includes expenses for consultation, laboratory tests, medication, and hospitalization. If you need more than PHP 10,000 worth of medical assistance in a year, you can submit another application for consideration.

For more information about the OWWA Medical Assistance Program, please contact the nearest OWWA regional office or visit the agency’s website.

Who is eligible for OWWA Medical Assistance?

Former OFWs who have paid the required membership fees and who are currently experiencing a medical emergency are eligible for OWWA Medical Assistance. OWWA will reimburse up to a maximum of PHP 100,000 for medical expenses incurred within a one-year period.

How to avail of OWWA Medical Assistance?

There are three types of OWWA Medical Assistance programs, namely:
1. Medical Reimbursement Program
2. Bedspace Rental Assistance Program (BRAP)
3. Hospitalization Assistance Program (HAP)

To avail of the said programs, former OFWs must first be active members of OWWA with at least 120 days of contributions prior to availment. They should also present a valid Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), and other documents required by OWWA.

What are the benefits of OWWA Medical Assistance?

The OWWA Medical Assistance Program provides financial assistance to former OFWs who are in need of medical treatment. This includes treatments for cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, and other major illnesses. The program also covers the costs of hospitalization and medication.

How long is the coverage of OWWA Medical Assistance?

The coverage of OWWA Medical Assistance is for a period of one (1) year, renewable for another year.

What are the limitations of OWWA Medical Assistance?

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) provides medical assistance to former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are suffering from an illness or injury that is work-related. However, there are certain limitations to this assistance.

Some of the limitations of OWWA medical assistance include:

-The OFW must have been deployed through the Philippines’ land-based recruitment system.
-The OFW must have contributed to the OWWA Fund for at least one month.
-The illness or injury must have been caused by work (e.g. an accident that happened while working).
-The OFW must not be receiving any other form of medical assistance from another source (e.g. the government, their employer, etc.).

OWWA medical assistance is provided in the form of financial assistance for medical expenses, as well as repatriation costs if necessary.

FAQs

Q: How can I avail of the OWWA Medical Assistance?

A: You can avail of the OWWA Medical Assistance by contacting any OWWA Regional Office near you. For a list of OWWA Regional Offices, please visit our website at http://www.owwa.gov.ph/contact-us/.

Q: What are the requirements for availing of the OWWA Medical Assistance?

A: The requirements for availing of the OWWA Medical Assistance are as follows:
1. Duly accomplished Application Form;
2. One (1) 2 x 2 recent color photograph with white background;
3. Photocopy of Passport;
4. Official Receipt or Proof of Payment for Consultation Fees; and
5. Supporting documents from attending physician (e.g., Laboratory/ diagnostic results, etc.)

Q: How much financial assistance can I avail under the OWWA Medical Assistance Program?

A: The amount of financial assistance that you can avail under the OWWA Medical Assistance Program shall not exceed Fifty Thousand Pesos (PhP50,000).

Conclusion

After years of working hard overseas, many Filipino workers return home to their families with the hope of finally being able to live a more relaxed life. However, some end up finding themselves in need of medical assistance due to the arduous nature of their previous work. Thankfully, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) provides financial assistance to former OFWs in need of medical treatment.

To be eligible for OWWA medical assistance, former OFWs must first prove that they are indeed in need of financial assistance for medical reasons. They will need to submit medical documents as well as other relevant paperwork to OWWA. Once approved, they will be given a certain amount of money that can be used towards their medical expenses.

While the process of applying for OWWA medical assistance may seem daunting, it is definitely worth doing if you are a former OFW in need of financial help for your medical treatment. With this program in place, you can rest assured knowing that you will be able to get the treatment you need without having to worry about how you will pay for it.

References

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) provides medical assistance to former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are in need of medical treatment in the Philippines.

Former OFWs who are OWWA members and have contributed to the OWWA fund for at least six (6) months are eligible for this assistance. They will be given a maximum of PHP 100,000.00 per year for medical expenses.

In cases where the OFW has a preexisting medical condition, he or she may still apply for medical assistance from OWWA. However, the maximum amount that may be awarded will be based on the remaining balance of the fund and the assessed need of the OFW.