EMPLOYEES of the University can now pay hospital bills, even those of their family members, by salary deduction.
The Office of the Vice Rector for Finance released a memorandum last Nov. 4 allowing University employees to pay bills at the UST Hospital through their salaries as long as they meet the conditions set.
Employees must have “take-home pay of at least 50 percent of their basic monthly at compensation” and have rendered at least one year of service to the University.
Support staff and faculty members can charge a maximum of P50,000 in hospitalization costs to their salaries, payable in one year. Salary deductions, however, are subject to the approval of the Office of Vice Rector for Finance.
UST Faculty Union vice president for legal affairs Noel Asiones said the new policy is “very Christian.”
“It is a good thing because it lessens the financial burden of the faculty members,” Asiones said.
Employees may exceed the P50,000 limit on a case-to-case basis, but will have to pay the amount over two years at 10 percent annual interest.
University employees may seek hospital assistance for immediate family members like spouses, children, and parents.
Under the previous policy, faculty members with a 15-unit load and staff were entitled to P100,000 in hospital assistance per academic year, and an insurance program that provided P40,000 to P70,000 cash assistance in case of personal accidents. “Benefit lang siya dati sa members, ngayon kasama na rin mga kamag-anak. Before, I have to shell out money para ma-admit. Ngayon, at least, admit [now and then] pay later,” said Jun Dolor, website developer at Santo Tomas e-Service Providers. Diana Jean B. Evite
