AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee (Rep. Lee's office)

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee has urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to apply a 30 percent increase in all its benefits and coverage.

“2024 na, ano pang hinihintay ng PhilHealth para ipatupad itong 30 percent increase? Huwag nating ipagdamot ito sa milyon-milyong makikinabang dito,” Lee said in a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

(It's already 2024, what is PhilHealth waiting for before implement this 30 percent increase? Let's not be too stingy to share it to the millions who will benefit from it.)

“Isipin natin yung mga pinipili na lang na maratay sa bahay, at sa kasamaang palad, mga namamatay, dahil hindi nagpa-ospital sa takot na mabaon sa utang dahil sa laki ng gagastusin,” he stressed.

(Let's think about those who choose to confine themselves at home, and unfortunately, those who die, because they did not go to the hospital for fear of getting buried in debt from all the expenses.)

The Bicol lawmaker noted that PhilHealth has enough funds to provide the proposed increase and expansion of services.

During the budget hearing of the Department of Health (DOH) on Sept. 6, 2023, it was revealed that the state health insurer had P466 billion worth of investible funds and a net income of P68.4 billion.

PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. recently said that the agency is already working on increasing the benefit packages across the board from 10 to 30 percent.

While already approved by the executive committee, the proposal still needs the green light from PhilHealth’s Board of Directors, which is expected to convene this month.

“One step closer ito sa pangarap natin na 'pag nagkasakit ang Pilipino, konti na lang, o wala nang ni isang kusing na babayaran sa pagpapagamot sa ospital,” said Lee.

(This is one step closer to our dream that when Filipinos get sick, they need to just pay a little, or not even a single penny for hospital treatment.)