With half of Filipinos concerned with the high costs of medical care, government must prioritize measures to cover the healthcare expenses of its citizens.
This, stressed AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee, is why the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) should increase its benefits by 20% to 30%—benefits the agency can shoulder given its current fiscal position.
“Kailangan na itaas ang PhilHealth benefits. The sooner the better. Winner Tayo Lahat kung kampante ang ating mga kababayan na sasagutin ng gobyerno ang medical expenses nila kung sila’y magkasakit.”
The Bicolano legislator pointed out that the 2023 Manulife Asia Care Survey showed that close to half (49%) of those polled said that the expense of treatment was their number one health management worry.
“Hindi naman nakakagulat ito. Sa mga ikot ko, sa Facebook ko, ang number one na hinihingi na tulong ng ating mga kababayan ay medical assistance,” revealed Lee.
According to Lee, the other findings of the survey should convince policymakers to prioritize healthcare.
Of those surveyed, 37% said they were concerned about the loss of incomes or employment because of illness, while almost all of those surveyed were worried about at least one illness, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Lee said “kita natin dito na matindi talaga ang pangamba ng ating mga kababayan sa napakalaking gastusin sa pagpapagamot o pagpapa-ospital kapag may nagkasakit sa pamilya.”
The lawmaker in October 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 and increase its coverage since its case rate “is no longer responsive to the hospitalization cost of the beneficiaries.”
“Our countrymen are afraid they will lose their jobs or go bankrupt if they get sick. Hindi mawawala ang takot na yan kung hindi tayo aaksyon,” said Lee.
“Kailangan na itaas ang PhilHealth benefits. The sooner the better. Winner Tayo Lahat kung kampante ang ating mga kababayan na sasagutin ng gobyerno ang medical expenses nila kung sila’y magkasakit.”
