THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will increase the rates of most of its benefit packages before the year ends.
During the hearing for the 2025 P304 billion budget of the Department of Health and its attached agencies, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. gave assurances that more enhancements are on the way before the year ends.
He said the case rates are likely to increase to a maximum of 30 percent across all cases. This is expected to lower out-of-pocket expenses of patients during hospitalization and in the availment of PhilHealth benefits for outpatient care.
“Last February 14, we implemented an almost across-the-board 30 percent increase for all the benefit packages of PhilHealth. Currently, we are in the process of studying another round of 30-percent increases, and I commit to this honorable committee that it will happen on or before Christmas Day,” Ledesma said. “By the end of this year, members can expect a total increase of more than 50 percent across the board increase in benefits.”
Earlier this year, PhilHealth implemented a 30-percent increase in case rates for conditions such as breast cancer, neonatal sepsis, and bronchial asthma.
The capitation rate for the Konsulta Expansion increased, alongside enhancements in the hemodialysis package and the introduction of outpatient therapeutic care services for severe acute malnutrition.
Moreover, Ledesma said PhilHealth members can still expect numerous increases in packages, including the implementation of a Covid-19 in-patient enhancement, further increases in the hemodialysis rate, and expanded services for physical and medical rehabilitation.
Other upcoming improvements include enhanced coverage for dengue treatment, chemotherapy, ischemic heart disease, ST-elevation myocardial infarction, emergency care, cataract extraction, post-kidney transplant care, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, open-heart surgeries, and peritoneal dialysis.
“We are committed to ensuring that our members receive the best possible healthcare coverage,” Ledesma said.
He vowed to continue to respond to Filipinos’ needs in line with President Marcos’s 10-point agenda, especially in the area of affordable and universal health care for all Filipinos.
