Palace to abide by SC ruling on PhilHealth subsidy issue

Malacañang said the government would comply with the Supreme Court (SC) should it rule with finality on the issue of transferring excess funds from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the national treasury to finance priority public projects and programs.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said that the government is awaiting the final ruling from the High Court.

“Kung sasabihin po ng Supreme Court na dapat po na ibalik ang subsidy mula sa gobyerno, tutuparin po natin iyan at magku-comply po tayo kung anuman po ang sasabihin ng Supreme Court (If the Supreme Court rules that the subsidy must be returned, we will comply to what the Supreme Court says),” the Palace press officer said.

On another PhilHealth issue pending before the SC, Castro urged the public to await its ruling on the “zero subsidy” for the state health insurance agency.

“Pakinggan na lang po muna natin kung ano po ang magiging desisyon ng Supreme Court (Let us just wait for the decision of the Supreme Court),” she said.

PhilHealth received zero subsidy in the P6.326-trillion 2025 national budget. Despite this, President Marcos then made an assurance that the state insurer will continue expanding its services and provide excellent benefits for all.

“At tingnan naman ninyo, at ito yung guarantee ko, napakasimple lang ng guarantee ko. Kahit may subsidy, kahit walang subsidy, kahit anong contribution, all of these issues, hindi mababawasan ang serbisyo ng PhilHealth (And look at it, this is my guarantee, my guarantee is simple. Whether there is subsidy or no subsidy, whatever the contribution is, all of these issues, PhilHealth’s services will not be cut down),” Marcos then said.

“Hindi mababawasan ang bayad ng PhilHealth sa insurance claim (PhilHealth’s payments to insurance claim will not be reduced),” he added.