Members of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) may now avail of outpatient emergency care services for unexpected life-threatening medical emergencies, PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma said.
Ledesma disclosed this during a Senate Committee on Health and Demography hearing on Thursday, January 16 where he also said that PhilHealth will shoulder a portion of the medical expenses of patients admitted as an outpatient for less than 24 hours.
“We now also cover outpatient emergency care for more comprehensive financial protection against the unexpected. For life-threatening medical emergencies not requiring hospitalization beyond 24 hours, our members can count on PhilHealth,” Ledesma told members of the panel headed by Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.
Ledesma also said PhilHealth has rationalized its benefit package for cataract extraction “and that should benefit both our senior citizens and pediatric cases.”
PhilHealth has also fixed the benefits for Covid-19 in-patient packages and severe dengue packages by 194 percent from P16,700 to P47,000.
The state health insurance agency will cover subsidy the optometric services of 0 to 15 years old.
“Even as I speak, the enhancements of our benefit packages continue. Our circular for optometric services for 0 to 15-year-olds has been finalized for publication just early this morning, and it will be effective immediately upon publication,” according to Ledesma.
Go lauded the recent developments in PhilHealth, but urged the agency to strictly and transparently implement its programs.
“These commitments being implemented by PhilHealth are part of our efforts to make sure that Filipinos get the health benefits they deserve. While we welcome these actions, we will not stop in our crusade in ensuring that they will deliver on their promises to protect the lives of Filipinos,” Go said.
And despite the non-provision of a budget subsidy to PhilHealth this year under the General Appropriations Act of 2025, Go urged the agency to maximize their available unutilized excess funds.