The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said on Thursday, May 9, that it has increased its Z benefit package for breast cancer patients to 1.4 million.
“Yes, this is really good news for our countrymen, especially those who are undergoing treatment, even those who are set to begin the treatment for breast cancer," said Philhealth Acting Vice President Corporate Affairs Group Rey Baleña in a Bagong Pilipinas interview.
"The PhilHealth Board approved this to be effective on March 30 of this year that the Z benefit for breast cancer will be up to 1.4 million in coverage,” he added.
He explained that this enhanced benefit package now covers any stages of breast cancer and even expanded the eligibility qualifications of members who can avail, including patients who are already undergoing treatment.
On the other hand, he emphasized that even if they have a cancer that is not related to any of those in the Z benefit package, members can still avail of other benefits.
“Yes we have because that is one of the methods of PhilHealth that we have prioritization and of course, our packages are there for more people who are in need,” Baleña said.
“Hindi po malayo ‘yan (magkaroon ng benefit sa iba't ibang cancer) sapagkat alam natin kapag yung cancer napaka-catastrophic niyan at magastos at mahabang gamutan, So hindi po malayo mangyari na yung mga iba pang cancers na magkaroon tayo ng Z benefit packages. (That is not impossible (to have benefits to varoius cancers) because we know when it is cancer — it is very catastrophic, expensive and takes a long time to treat it, so it is not impossible for the other cancers to have Z benefit packages),” Baleña explained.
Also this year, he mentioned that according to the benefit plan approved by the Board, PhilHealth is also set to enhance the prostate cancer package for men and cervical cancer for women.
However, while there is currently no Z benefit package for other cases of cancer, Baleña assured members that PhilHealth will continue to cover these under the case rate packages.
How to qualify for the enhanced Z benefit package
“The first step for our members is first, their diagnostics is best to do at contracted hospitals of PhilHealth for Z benefit for breast cancer to be able to avail our enhanced package of up to 1.4 million.,” said Baleña.
He pointed out that members must go to the contracted hospital so that the patient can be assisted by the Z benefit coordinator.
“Every contracted hospital has a designated Z-Benefit coordinator who will assist the patient and is the only person PhilHealth talked to,” the official said.
In Metro Manila, Baleña mentioned Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and East Avenue Medical Center are among the included facilities.
For a comprehensive list of contracted hospitals, he added, to just simply visit the PhilHealth website: www.philhealth.gov.ph.