QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will showcase its enhanced benefit packages during the 16th episode of Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas (KBP), focusing on the improved delivery of accessible and affordable healthcare services as part of the vision for Universal Health Care (UHC).
Dr. Bernadette C. Lico, PhilHealth PRO NCR and Rizal Vice President, will lead the discussion on primary care services available through the KONSULTA (Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama) Benefit Package. This initiative provides comprehensive access to free healthcare services, including medical consultations, health risk screenings, selected laboratory tests, and essential medications from over 2,000 KONSULTA providers nationwide.
The episode will also address a projected 30 percent increase in case rate packages, reflecting PhilHealth’s ongoing commitment to expand services and reduce out-of-pocket expenses for Filipinos seeking medical care.
On September 7, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma, Jr., reaffirmed the national health insurance system’s dedication to enhancing benefit packages to alleviate the financial burden on Filipinos. “We hear the concerns of our kababayans about the high cost of medical treatment,” Ledesma said. “We are expediting the improvement of benefits.”
Significant increases in benefit packages have been made for critical health issues, including breast cancer, dialysis, stroke, pneumonia, and asthma. Notably, the Z Benefit Package for breast cancer has surged from P100,000 to P1.4 million, with added coverage for ultrasound and mammogram services for early detection.
Dialysis coverage has also expanded, increasing from 90 to 156 sessions, with a rise in payment per session by 51 percent, from P2,600 to P4,000. Other notable increases include coverage for hemorrhagic stroke from P38,000 to P80,000, ischemic stroke from P28,000 to P76,000, bronchial asthma from P9,000 to P22,488, and neonatal sepsis from P11,700 to P25,793.
The KBP forum, organized by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) through the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), aims to provide timely and relevant information about government programs and services to grassroots communities nationwide. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
