(MANILA BULLETIN)

Help Filipinos appreciate the additional benefits that they'll get as a result of the premium hike from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). 

Senator Francis Tolentino offered this advice to the state health insurer amid the impending five percent premium hike that will be imposed on its members. 

In his regular DZRH radio program Saturday, Jan. 20, Tolentino spoke to PhilHealth Spokesperson Rey Balena, who mentioned what the additional benefits were. 

According to Balena, included in the new benefits are expanded coverage of dialysis from 90 sessions to 156, mental health coverage of up to P60,000, and boost for stroke and hemorrhagic sectors, among others. 

"Sa pagpapaliwanag ninyo, iyan ang dapat na maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan na itong five percent [premium] ay may appropriate increase rin sa value ng serbisyo na pwede nilang makamtan," the senator told his program guest. 

(Through your explanation, our countrymen must understand that they will get an appropriate increase in the value of service in exchange for this five percent premium hike.) 

Balena responded in the affirmative. He further said the agency is mandated to provide a corresponding increase in benefits for every contribution hike allowed by RA No.11223 or the Universal Healthcare Law signed in 2019. 

“Talagang ang nasa batas po ay (The law says that) for every contribution increase, dapat meron tayong katapat na pagbuti sa benefits (there should be an appropriate increase in benefits),” Balena said.