New Year, more benefits.
This is the what AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee hopes to provide millions of Filipinos as he urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to apply the 30% increase in all its benefits and coverage.
In October last year, Lee wrote PhilHealth recommending a 20% to 30% increase in all PhilHealth benefit packages and coverage provided by the agency. He also filed House Resolution No. 1407 urging PhilHealth to update its coverage since its case rate has not been adjusted to account for inflation and rising health care costs.
“Hindi lahat ng Pilipino, may health card o HMO. Paano naman yung mga kababayan natin na umaasa lang sa sasagutin ng PhilHealth sa pagpapagamot? Isipin natin yung mga pinipili na lang na maratay sa bahay, at sa kasamaang palad, mga namamatay, dahil hindi nagpa-ospital sa takot na mabaon sa utang dahil sa laki ng gagastusin,” Lee pointed out.
“2024 na, ano pang hinihintay ng PhilHealth para ipatupad itong 30% increase? Huwag nating ipagdamot ito sa milyon-milyong makikinabang dito,” he added.
The Bicolano lawmaker has been persistent on this matter, stressing that PhilHealth is in a position to provide the said increase and expand its services because the agency has the funds.
“Simula nang malaman natin noong September 2023 na may sobra-sobrang pondo pala ang PhilHealth, na kaya pala nilang ma-afford ang 30% increase in benefits, hindi ko na tinantanan ang panawagan na ito, at hindi rin ako titigil hanggang mabigay ng PhilHealth ang sapat at nararapat para sa mga kababayan nating may sakit.”
Through Lee’s questioning during the budget hearing of the Department of Health on Sept. 6, 2023, it was revealed that the state health insurer had P466 billion worth of investible funds and a net income of P68.4 billion.
In October last year, he wrote PhilHealth recommending a 20% to 30% increase in all benefit packages and coverage provided by the agency. He also filed House Resolution No. 1407 urging the PhilHealth to update its coverage since its case rate has not been adjusted to account for inflation and rising health care costs.
PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. earlier said that the agency is already working on increasing the benefit packages across the board from 10% to 30%. While the proposal has already passed the executive committee, it still needs the approval of the PhilHealth Board of Directors (BOD).
The BOD is expected to convene this month to discuss and decide on this pending proposal to increase PhilHealth’s benefit packages.
“Winner Tayo Lahat kapag finally, na-implement na itong much-needed increase sa PhilHealth. One step closer ito sa pangarap natin na ‘pag nagkasakit ang Pilipino, konti na lang, o wala nang ni isang kusing na babayaran sa pagpapagamot sa ospital.”
