The Insurance Commission (IC) of the Philippines has forged a new partnership with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to offer free legal aid to individuals navigating claims or disputes related to insurance, pre-need contracts, and Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) services.
Announced on Monday, this memorandum of agreement aims to provide essential legal support, particularly for the country's underprivileged and marginalised populations.
Under this agreement, the IC will continue its practice of informing policyholders and other claimants of their legal options when they lodge complaints against insurance, pre-need, and HMO companies.
Following this, the IC may direct claimants to the IBP for legal assistance, which will be made available at no cost depending on the results of a means and merit test and the availability of volunteer lawyers.
The partnership underscores a commitment to ensuring that legal services are accessible to those who might not otherwise afford them, facilitating a fair process in resolving insurance-related disputes. Notably, this initiative does not restrict individuals from seeking help or filing for formal adjudication independently, as current IC procedures allow for the lodging of complaints and requests without legal representation.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by the IC to uphold consumer rights effectively.
In 2023 alone, the IC addressed all 5,417 informal complaints it received, following the guidelines of the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act (Republic Act No. 11765). These complaints were resolved through either direct settlements between the involved parties or by moving them into formal adjudication processes.
The agreement with the IBP follows the IC's initiation of a conservatorship agreement for Carehealth Plus Systems International following continuous non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
