The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said it will be reviewing its benefit packages for Covid-19 in line with the country's current coronavirus situation.
“PhilHealth will rationalize the current Covid-19 benefit packages, specifically for the inpatient packages, RT-PCR, and rapid antigen test, and isolation packages," said the agency's President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. on Wednesday, Feb. 15.
The review will be conducted as there are changes in the protocols and guidelines for Covid-19, said PhilHealth Senior Vice President Israel Francis Pargas.
“We will review according to the current standards that we have. Alam naman natin na ang standards and protocol of treatment sa Covid ay pabago-bago, paiba-iba. Naaupdate sya (We know that the standards and protocols of treatment for Covid are changing or varying. It is being updated)," said Pargas.
"In that sense, in aligning with the new protocols and treatment guidelines, we will also rationalize our benefits," he added.
When asked if this review will decrease or increase the benefits included in the packages, Pargas said it depends.
“Yung rationalization could either mean pwede madagdagan, pwede din mabawasan. Depende na ito sa magiging bagong protocols and guidelines (The rationalization could either mean it could be increased or it could also be decreased. It depends on the new protocols and guidelines)," he said.
However, Ledesma assured the public that the review will be conducted in a thorough manner.
"Rest assured that when we review everything, we will really have the best interest of the Filipino people. Kung kailangan talaga, itutuloy namin. Kung kailangan pagandahin, gagawin namin (If it's really necessary, we will continue it. If it needs to be improved, we will do it)," he said.
Based on the current PhilHealth inpatient Covid-19 package, “patients confirmed with Covid-19 and developed into severe illnesses can avail themselves” of inpatient benefits for mild pneumonia, P43,997; moderate pneumonia, P143,267; severe pneumonia, P333,519; and critical pneumonia for P786,384.
For RT-PCR testing, PhilHealth provides coverage ranging from P800 to P2,800 for plate-based, and P500 to P2,450 for cartridge-based. Meanwhile, the benefit package for antigen test is at P500.
PhilHealth also offers a coverage of P5,917 for home isolation and P22,449 for community isolation.