Executives of PhilHealth Decide on Hike on Members’ Benefits
PHILHEALTH – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation increased the benefits for the members amid the zero subsidy in 2025.
The national government has given a new budget for the different state offices this 2025. Undeniably, there were budget allocations that sparked countless reports. One of which was the budget allocated by the national government for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
The lawmakers have decided to give a zero subsidy for PhilHealth in 2025. According to Senator Grace Poe, the state health insurer has to use its reserve funds around P600 billion kept in a bank account.
Poe stressed that the government is at a losing side with regards to the reserve funds of the state health insurer as it earns very little. Then, the state health insurer decided to pen a letter to Pres. Bongbong Marcos to appeal the removal of its subsidy.
Sen. Grace Poe said that PhilHealth will still be given a budget for operation. Pres. Bongbong Marcos said that the state health insurer has enough funds to operate and can allegedly do whatever they want.
Following the statement of Pres. Bongbong Marcos, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation expressed respect on the decision of the lawmakers over its subsidy. Amid a zero subsidy for PhilHealth in 2025, the state health insurer decided to increase the benefits for its members.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, PhilHealth decided to increase almost all of its benefit pacakages for the members by 50% starting January 2025. Senior Vice President for Health and Finance Policy Sector Dr. Israel Francis Pargas said that the hike covers 9,000 case rate member packages.
“Kung matatandaan ninyo, noong February of 2024, nag-increase na po tayo ng 30 percent, and ngayon po bago matapos ang taon, ay nag-increase tayo ng another round, this time 50 percent naman po sa around 9,000 benefit packages starting January 1 admissions,” Pargas said.
Based on the report, the PhilHealth official cited that the Kidney Transplantion Package which was formerly at P600,000 is now up to P2 million package. The Acute Myocardial Infarction or formerly called Angioplasty was increased from P30,000 to P530,000
Dr. Israel Francis Pargas also revealed that the dental health package has been widened as well as coverage for emergency outpatient services that was previously not part of existing packages.
Previously, amid the issue, Doc Willie Ong asked why the PhilHealth allegedly does not want to use its reserve funds.