Personal Finance Tips

PhilHealth contribution for OFWs: how much to pay, how to pay and check status

Michelle Alyssa

11.05.26

Read time 3 minutes

PhilHealth is the government corporation which provides universal health coverage to all Filipinos. Contributions to PhilHealth vary depending on how much you earn, but are required for all OFWs. You must send payments back even while you are abroad, as this ensures coverage for yourself and your dependents. If you miss contributions, you will need to pay them with added interest, making it especially important to stay on top of payments.

A recent House bill has proposed making contributions voluntary for OFWs - however, at present, this has not been passed, so payments are currently still mandatory.

This article will take you through everything you need to know about PhilHealth as an OFW, including how much you’ll need to pay and how to make payments from abroad. We'll also introduce the Wise card, a handy travel companion to make seamless card payments when you're overseas.

Table of Contents
What is PhilHealth? PhilHealth for OFWs OFW contribution rates Contribution table Where to pay Check contributions Pay from abroad Send PHP with Wise

What is PhilHealth?

PhilHealth is a government corporation that runs the National Health Insurance Program in the Philippines.¹ It helps make healthcare more affordable and accessible for Filipinos, including inpatient, outpatient and mental health benefits.²

All Filipinos can access PhilHealth benefits, but many members, including employed workers and OFWs, need to pay contributions. If you miss payments, you may need to pay them later with added interest.³

For OFWs, keeping PhilHealth contributions updated can help maintain coverage while you’re abroad. Your qualified dependents in the Philippines may also be able to use your PhilHealth coverage when they need care.⁴

Is PhilHealth mandatory for OFWs?

Yes, PhilHealth is mandatory for OFWs⁵. You must pay contributions during the time you are abroad. You can pay your contributions before you leave, or while working abroad⁶.

There is currently a bill in the House that would exempt OFWs from mandatory contributions⁷; however, it has not been passed*, so you must still pay contributions. In its current form, the bill would instead split contributions equally between the government and OFW employers, rather than between OFWs and employers. It is currently subject to policy updates and changes.

*Correct at the time of research - 27/03/2026

How much is PhilHealth Contribution for OFWs?

For 2026, PhilHealth contribution is set at 5% of monthly income for direct contributors, including OFWs. The scheduled increases under the Universal Health Care Law ended in 2025, and PhilHealth has said there will be no premium rate increase from January 2026.

For members earning below ₱10,000 per month, the minimum contribution is ₱500. For those earning ₱100,000 or more per month, the maximum contribution is ₱5,000.

PhilHealth Contribution Table

If your monthly salary is between ₱10,000 and ₱100,000, you can calculate your required PhilHealth contribution by multiplying your salary by 5%. If it’s less than ₱10,000, you’ll pay ₱500. If it’s ₱100,000 or more, you’ll pay ₱5,000.

Monthly salary	Total monthly contribution
Less than ₱10,000	₱500
₱20,000	₱1,000
₱30,000	₱1,500
₱50,000	₱2,500
₱100,000 or more	₱5,000

Where to pay PhilHealth contribution for OFWs

You can pay your PhilHealth contributions online through the PhilHealth portal, by going to Payment Management⁸. This allows you to pay directly using your debit or credit card.

You can also use an Accredited Collection Agent (ACA) - the full list of ACAs can be found on the PhilHealth website⁹, but popular options include GCash and Maya, as well as a variety of banks such as BPI and CitiBank. You can make payments directly through mobile banking apps which support it.

How to check PhilHealth contribution for OFW

You can easily check your PhilHealth contributions online by going to the PhilHealth portal. Simply log in, open the contribution section, and select the latest month. If this says paid, you’re all caught up on payments.

How to pay PhilHealth contribution from abroad

OFWs can pay PhilHealth contributions online through the PhilHealth Member Portal, accredited banks, or e-wallets like GCash and Maya.

To pay through the PhilHealth portal, you’ll usually need to:

Log in to the PhilHealth Member Portal
Go to Payment Management
Create or update your PRN
Choose a payment method
Save your receipt

You can also pay through supported banking apps or e-wallets by selecting PhilHealth as the biller and entering your PRN.

For a full walkthrough of each payment method, read the Wise guide on how to pay PhilHealth online.

Sending money home for PhilHealth payments? Use Wise

If you’re working overseas, you may need to send money back to the Philippines for PhilHealth contributions, family support or other bills.

Wise international money transfers can be set up online or within the Wise app with low fees from 0.57% and the mid-market rate, to over 140+ countries. There’s no markup added to the exchange rate that’s used to convert your currency, which makes it easier to see exactly what you're paying for a transfer, and what the recipient will get in the end. Just transfer the amount indicated in PHP and let Wise do the rest.

The true cost of sending USD to PHP

To make sending foreign currency even easier, create a free Wise account, and you'll be able to manage and convert your money in PHP and 40+ other currencies. You'll get the same great rates, and be able to track your transfers all from one place. You can also get 8+ local account details to be able to receive money in PHP, USD, GBP, and more.

Use the calculator below to estimate how much your money could be worth before sending.

🚀 Get started with Wise

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