PhilHealth’s expanded benefits create impact

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)’s expanded benefit packages are now delivering tangible results for millions of Filipinos, reducing out-of-pocket health expenses while inspiring stronger participation from the private healthcare sector.

Over the past two weeks, President Marcos and PhilHealth president and CEO Edwin Mercado personally witnessed how these reforms are transforming health care access in two leading private hospitals.

On May 1, the President and Mercado visited St. Elizabeth Hospital Inc., where PhilHealth members were actively benefiting from the agency’s expanded health care packages, including YAKAP primary care consultations, cancer treatment services and life-sustaining dialysis care.

The visit showcased how PhilHealth’s strengthened benefits are helping patients access essential treatment earlier while shielding families from the financial burden of illness.

Last May 11, the President visited The Medical City in Ortigas, where he inspected the newly opened Alfredo R.A. Bengzon Patient Access Ward, a 51-bed facility designed to provide world-class health care services to PhilHealth members with little to no out-of-pocket expenses.

The facility, which includes nine mother-and-baby-friendly rooms, stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when private hospitals fully embrace their partnership with PhilHealth in advancing accessible, high-quality health care.

Patients and their families shared firsthand how expanded PhilHealth coverage protected them from catastrophic medical expenses and allowed them to focus on recovery instead of financial hardship.

“The question is not capability, but will – the will to look at every PhilHealth member and say, ‘You belong here, too,’” said Mercado. “Decades from now, no one will ask how many private suites a hospital had. They will ask how many lives were saved and changed.”

Building on these successes, PhilHealth is calling on more private hospitals, specialty centers and clinics nationwide to join this shared mission of making quality health care truly accessible to every Filipino.

The agency remains ready to support health care facilities seeking accreditation across its growing range of benefit packages – including primary care, outpatient emergency services, inpatient care, maternity services, dialysis, cancer care and treatment of catastrophic illnesses under the Z Benefits Program.

Health care institutions interested in partnering with PhilHealth may visit the PhilHealth official website or coordinate with the nearest PhilHealth local health insurance office.