MANILA — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) defended yesterday the higher contributions that they are promoting for their members and said it is necessary for their plan to further expand their coverage.
According to PhilHealth CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., under their coverage expansion plan, their members and beneficiaries will no longer need to pay more for treatment for certain illnesses.
“Marami kaming nakalatag na enhancements na siguradong mararamdaman ng mga miyembro dahil sa mas mababang bayarin sa ospital, kung hindi man wala nang babayaran pa,” Ledesma said.
He said, PhilHealth will rationalize the case rates for bronchial asthma and bacterial sepsis in newborn babies and COVID-19 inpatient benefits.
Beneficiaries can also expect better packages for severe acute malnutrition in children aged five years and below, as well as services for physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Another of the benefits to look out for is the enhancement of peritoneal dialysis under the Z Benefits Package.
Ledesma further explained, “This is where the importance of adjusting our contribution rates comes into play. It will generate funds necessary for us to complete our benefit plans, and more importantly to sustain the reforms in the benefit packages.”
It can be recalled that the contribution of PhilHealth members will increase up to 5% this year, from the previous 4%.
Ledesma has already said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not oppose but he is still reviewing it.
