PhilHealth assures coverage for 'whooping cough' treatment amid rising cases
Amid reports of a surge in "whooping cough" cases in the Philippines, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) reassured the public of its coverage for inpatient confinement related to this condition.

PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., in a statement issued April 6, said that for cases requiring confinement, PhilHealth offers case rate benefits ranging from P13,000 to P19,000 for pertussis treatment.
“We understand the concerns surrounding pertussis treatment and want to reassure the public that PhilHealth is fully committed to supporting individuals needing inpatient care for this illness,” he said.
Ledesma assured the public of PhilHealth's commitment to supporting individuals needing inpatient care, with benefits for severe pneumonia, a common complication of pertussis, reaching up to P90,100.
He also urged all Filipinos to seek medical consultation if they exhibit symptoms of pertussis, such as mild fever, cough, or cold.
“If our Kababayans need medical consultation, I encourage them to avail themselves of the free consultation and the medicines they need to treat the disease as recommended by the healthcare provider under PhilHealth Konsulta. All they have to do is register,” the PhilHealth chief declared.
He highlighted that PhilHealth assures patients that they will receive the necessary care while the organization covers medical expenses related to pertussis treatment.
With this, Ledesma stressed the accessibility of PhilHealth's Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) Package, which provides free consultation and essential medicines for the treatment of the disease.
He also said PhilHealth Konsulta offers comprehensive outpatient primary care benefits, including free consultation, health risk screening, diagnostic tests, and prescribed medications.
Expressing support for the Department of Health’s (DOH) call for urgent vaccination, Ledesma highlighted the importance of preventive care in combating pertussis.
He said: “Vaccination and early detection are our strongest defenses against pertussis. I advise all our Kababayans to check the vaccination status of their children and have regular consultations to prevent the spread of the disease.”
Moreover, Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,” is a respiratory infection caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium.
The DOH said that it presents symptoms such as mild fever, colds, and a distinctive "staccato" cough.
The disease spreads through respiratory droplets and primarily affects infants and young children without the DTaP vaccine.