The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will provide additional life insurance coverage to a total of 27,682 employees of the Department of Health (DOH) nationwide who are putting their lives at risk in the fight against COVID-19. This was announced today by Rolando Ledesma Macasaet, President and General Manager of the state pension fund.
“The GSIS Board of Trustees, headed by our Chairman, former Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, recently approved the establishment of the Bayanihan Fund for Frontliners (BFF), which entitles the survivors of DOH frontliners who died of COVID-19 to receive an additional Php500,000 in insurance benefits,” Macasaet said.
“This is on top of the one-million-peso death benefit to be provided by the government under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Law and the regular life insurance benefit from GSIS,” he added.
As GSIS members, DOH frontline workers are automatically covered by the Enhanced Life Program (ELP) of GSIS which, upon the member’s demise, entitles his or her legal heirs to an insurance benefit equivalent to 150% of the annual salary of the member. In addition to this, the same survivors will also receive Php500,00 under the BFF program.
“For instance, the legal heirs of a government nurse who earns Php30,000 a month will receive Php 540,000 (150% of the member’s annual salary) in insurance benefits from GSIS upon her death. On top of this, the BFF program will pay her survivors an additional amount of Php500,000 for a total of Php1.04 million,” Macasaet explained.
“This is to show our appreciation for the courage, heroism and selfless dedication of our frontline workers in government. We hope that this will somewhat help assuage the grief felt by the families left behind by these heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country” Macasaet said.
Aside from doctors and nurses, the BFF program will cover other GSIS members involved in providing healthcare and assistance to COVID-19 patients such as cardio vascular technologists (ECG, ultrasound), medical technologists, radiologists/X-ray technicians, pulmo-therapists, pulmonologists, nursing aides, pharmacists, ambulance drivers, administrative staff, housekeeping/janitors and security guards, among others.
The BFF insurance cover will be effective from March 1 to December 31, 2020.
For inquiries on the BFF program, concerned parties may visit the GSIS website, www.gsis.gov.ph; GSIS official Facebook page @gsis.ph; send an email to gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph or call the GSIS contact center at 8847-4747 if in Metro Manila or 1-800-8-847-4747 (for Globe and TM subscribers) and 1-800-10-847-4747 (for Smart, Sun, and Talk ‘N Text subscribers).
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