Responding to questions about PhilHealth being used as a "political tool" by campaigning politicians each election season, its president Dr. Rey Aquino said: "There is good politics and there is bad politics. I believe that offering people free PhilHealth membership is good politics."

Aquino added that he would like to address the problem of membership continuity that such "free access" to PhilHealth’s benefits often brings. "Many of the indigents and members who are give free PhilHealth cards get coverage for one year, then they forget to take the opportunity to continue their membership and pay for their own premiums, which cost only P100 a month. Sayang naman po ito, sana ituloy nila (This is such a waste and they should keep it up)."

He also conceded that "yes, we do see an upsurge in membership when elections are held and we see that as a good thing because it brings PhilHealth closer to its goal of universal coverage for all Filipinos," politics notwithstanding.

Having served as a mayor in Pampanga and as a general physician, Aquino noted that politics "is not all bad and I believe that paying the PhilHealth premiums of voters whom politicians are wooing is a very good use of campaign money." The campaign funds in such a case, at least, will be useful to the people on whom the money is spent.

By the same card, LGUs include PhilHealth coverage as part of the benefits package they offer their constituents and pay the premiums of its indigent population out of the LGU coffers. "This partnership with LGUs helps PhilHealth reach every Filipino in those areas and it is a partnership we appreciate," Aquino said. (Alma Anonas-Carpio)