RA 10022 Compulsory OFW Insurance: Death Benefit and Repatriation Coverage

Every OFW deployed through a Philippine recruitment agency has a mandatory insurance policy under Republic Act 10022 — and many families never learn this until after they have already paid for repatriation out of pocket. The policy covers a minimum USD 10,000 for natural death, USD 15,000 for accidental death, and the full actual cost of repatriating the remains.

The insurance is paid for entirely by the employer. The worker pays nothing for it. And the benefits must be released within ten days of filing.

What RA 10022 Insurance Covers

The compulsory insurance, which must be issued by an Insurance Commission-licensed provider in the Philippines, provides:

These are non-contestable benefits — the insurer cannot deny or reduce the payout based on pre-existing conditions, lifestyle factors, or the circumstances of death.

Who Qualifies

The coverage applies to agency-hired OFWs — workers who were deployed through a licensed Philippine recruitment agency (PRA) with a valid POEA/DMW-approved employment contract. The policy must remain active for the duration of the contract.

Workers who are not covered by RA 10022 insurance:

• Self-hired or direct-hire workers (those who found their job independently without a PRA)
• Workers whose contracts have expired and who are on overstay or irregular status
• Workers whose recruitment agency failed to secure the mandatory policy (the agency is liable, but the policy itself doesn't exist)

For workers not covered by RA 10022, the DMW AKSYON Fund serves as the safety net for repatriation costs.

How to File a Claim

Step 1: Identify the insurer. Contact the Philippine recruitment agency that deployed the worker. They are required to provide the insurance policy details, including the insurer name and policy number. If the agency is unresponsive, the DMW Central Office (Hotline: 1348) can look up the worker's deployment records and identify the responsible agency.

Step 2: Gather the documents. The insurer will require:

• PSA-issued death certificate (keep the Consular Report of Death from the Philippine consular post with the claim file while the PSA record is being processed)
• Police report or accident report (if applicable)
• Proof of relationship between the claimant and the deceased (PSA-issued marriage or birth certificates)
• A completed claim form from the insurer

Step 3: Submit directly to the insurer. The claim can be filed by the primary beneficiary (surviving spouse or children). The insurer must process the claim and release payment within ten business days of complete filing.

Step 4: Escalate if needed. If the insurer delays or denies the claim, file a complaint with the Insurance Commission of the Philippines. If the recruitment agency refuses to assist, report them to the DMW — agencies that fail to support beneficiary claims face suspension or cancellation of their license.

The Recruitment Agency's Role

Under RA 10022, the Philippine recruitment agency and the foreign employer are jointly and severally liable for the worker's contractual obligations, including repatriation. In practice this means:

• If the Saudi employer (sponsor) refuses to pay repatriation costs, the recruitment agency must cover them
• If the insurance policy wasn't properly secured, the agency is directly liable for the equivalent amounts
• The agency must actively assist the beneficiaries in filing the insurance claim — they cannot simply provide a policy number and disengage

What Families Get Wrong

Paying for repatriation before checking insurance. Total repatriation from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines runs USD 5,000–15,000. Many families borrow or raise funds for this before anyone mentions RA 10022. The insurance covers actual costs — confirm with the insurer whether it will pay directly or reimburse the family.

Not knowing the insurance exists. The worker often doesn't remember or mention the insurance because it was processed as part of the deployment paperwork. The policy document may be with the agency, not the worker.

Confusing RA 10022 with OWWA. These are separate programs. RA 10022 is a private insurance policy; OWWA is a government social benefit. Filing for one does not affect or offset the other. A family should file for both.

The Philippines–Saudi bereavement guide includes the RA 10022 claim workflow alongside the five other financial recovery programs, with a tracker to manage all claims simultaneously.