Employees in the Philippines aged 18 to 65 can join PhilCare from hire, if their client has chosen PhilCare for them. You can also add family members as dependents at any time. Which family members can join depends on whether you are married, single or a single parent. These rules are for the PhilCare plan year 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Note: You can add a dependent at any time. Your client may pay for a dependent; if not, you can pay through a monthly payroll deduction.
Employees
You can join PhilCare from hire if you are a probationary or regular employee, aged 18 to 65, and actively at work. PhilCare uses your actual age. If you pass the age limit during the plan year, your cover continues until the plan year ends on 30 June 2027.
If you are not a PhilHealth member, tell your HR Manager when you join PhilCare.
Dependents if you are married
If you are married, you can add these family members to your PhilCare cover, in this order:
Your legal spouse, aged 65 or under.
Your children, from the oldest to the youngest. They can be natural or legally adopted children, aged 15 days to 21 years, unmarried, not working or earning an income, and fully dependent on you.
Your parents, aged 65 or under, as extended dependents.
Dependents if you are single
If you are single, you can add these family members to your PhilCare cover, in this order:
Your parents, aged 65 or under, if neither parent works for money. You can add either parent first.
Your brothers and sisters, from the oldest to the youngest, aged 15 days to 21 years, unmarried, not working or earning an income, and fully dependent on you.
Dependents if you are a single parent
If you are a single parent, you can add these family members to your PhilCare cover, in this order:
Your children, from the oldest to the youngest, aged 15 days to 21 years, unmarried, not working or earning an income, and fully dependent on you.
After all your eligible children are added, your parents, aged 65 or under, if neither parent works for money.
A common-law spouse or same-sex partner
You can also add a common-law spouse or a same-sex partner (LGBT partner) aged 18 to 65. You and your partner must meet all these rules:
Both single: neither of you is legally married to, or the domestic partner of, anyone else.
Living together: you have lived together as if married, without a break, for at least the last 6 months, in a serious, committed relationship.
Not related: you are not related by blood.
Before PhilCare approves your partner, you must give a Barangay Certification and a CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage Record). Your HR Manager must endorse the enrolment.
Other rules for dependents
PhilCare approval: PhilCare reviews and approves each dependent. Adding a dependent is a request, not a guarantee.
Age limits: PhilCare uses each person's actual age. A dependent who passes an age limit during the plan year stays covered until 30 June 2027.
Good health: each dependent must be in good health on the day their cover starts. This means they are doing their normal activities and are not incapacitated by sickness, injury or disability.
Babies: a baby can join from 15 days old. Add your baby as soon as you can after the birth.
Pre-existing conditions: for a dependent added from 1 July 2026, pre-existing conditions are covered up to PHP 20,000 in their first year of cover, then up to the full PHP 200,000 limit.
Documents: PhilCare can ask for documents at any time to check that a dependent is eligible.
Correct information: give correct details, such as date of birth, relationship, health information and whether the person is a PhilHealth member. Wrong or missing information can cancel a member's cover from the start.
Who pays for a dependent
Your client may choose to pay for a dependent. If your client does not pay, you can pay through a monthly payroll deduction.
The amount for each dependent shows in the Outstaffer AI platform under Profile > Health Insurance > Monthly Deduction Amount. Your HR Manager confirms the amount with you before the dependent is added.
If your employment agreement includes health cover for a dependent, your client pays for it.
How to add a dependent
You can add a dependent at any time. Ask your HR Manager. For the steps and documents, see "Philippines: How to Add or Remove a Dependent on PhilCare".
Who to contact
This article is general information, not the full PhilCare contract. For the full terms of your PhilCare cover, ask your HR Manager.
Adding a dependent, or checking if a family member can join: contact your HR Manager through a support request in the Outstaffer AI platform.
Medical questions, LOAs and finding a doctor or hospital: call PhilCare on its 24/7 line, (02) 8462-1800.