NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) — The Konsulta program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) offers free consultations and medicines for registered members in the province, with an increase in their health insurance benefits.
According to Dr. Carl Francis A. Acosta, a medical specialist from PhilHealth Eastern Visayas, there will be an increase of 30 percent in the coverage rate of most benefit packages effective Feb. 14.
This includes the Caesarian section, which will increase from P19,000 to P24,700, and dengue fever, which will increase from P10,000 to P13,000.
Misael F. Paigan, head of the Local Health Insurance Office, reported the achievements of beneficiaries registered in their membership database during the press conference in Kawayan, Biliran. (Photo: PIA Biliran)
He added that enhanced benefits will be offered this year, covering severe acute malnutrition, dengue hemorrhagic fever, chemotherapy for lung, liver, ovarian, and prostate cancers, and bronchial asthma.
In addition to these benefits, it will cover newborn bacterial sepsis, enhance the Z-benefits package for kidney transplants, breast cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, and open-heart surgery for children.
Eva Aguilon, head of the PhilHealth office in Naval, believed that the Konsulta Caravan helped disseminate their programs and benefits and convinced self-earning individuals to register for membership.
PhilHealth clarified that registered members who opt to avail themselves of free consultation and medicines should submit themselves for medication to partner facilities, like the rural health units and other government hospitals.
Some of the municipal health office doctors served during the PhilHealth Konsulta Caravan in Kayawan, Biliran. (Photo: PIA Biliran)
PhilHealth also added that increasing and enhancing health insurance benefits or health packages is part of their 29th anniversary in February.
Misael F. Paigan, head of the Local Health Insurance Office (LHIO) in Maasin, has reported that the Naval Health Insurance Office achieved the highest membership registration rate among the six LHIOs in Region 8. As of December 2023, they have registered 340,538 members and dependents, which is 99 percent of their target of 345,474.
The Konsulta Caravan in Kawayan, Biliran, is the fourth caravan in the region, following Ormoc City, Maasin City, and Tacloban City. (MLT, PIA Biliran)
