The head of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said the state insurer is working on increasing its share in healthcare expenditures to help reduce its members’ out-of-pocket expenses.
“Ang objective namin maitaas ‘yung share ng PhilHealth doon sa total healthcare expenditure from 10.6% to 18.5%, 18.7%,” newly appointed PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Edwin Mercado said during a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
He explained that currently, PhilHealth members’ out-of-pocket expenses range from 44% to 45% of their total medical bills.
“Yung full effect ng buong taon, yung 50% increase ay by itself malaki na yung maidadagdag noon kasi nga ang habol namin, eventually, hopefully in three years’ time, maibaba ‘yung out-of-pocket expenses to 25% to 30%,” he added.
(Our objective is to increase PhilHealth’s share in the total healthcare expenditure from 10.6% to 18.5%, 18.7%. The 50% increase [n health packages] by itself is a big addition, because we aim, eventually and hopefully, to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses to 25% to 30%.)
The head of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said the state insurer is working on increasing its share in healthcare expenditures to help reduce its members’ out-of-pocket expenses.
“Ang objective namin maitaas ‘yung share ng PhilHealth doon sa total healthcare expenditure from 10.6% to 18.5%, 18.7%,” newly appointed PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Edwin Mercado said during a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
He explained that currently, PhilHealth members’ out-of-pocket expenses range from 44% to 45% of their total medical bills.
“Yung full effect ng buong taon, yung 50% increase ay by itself malaki na yung maidadagdag noon kasi nga ang habol namin, eventually, hopefully in three years’ time, maibaba ‘yung out-of-pocket expenses to 25% to 30%,” he added.
(Our objective is to increase PhilHealth’s share in the total healthcare expenditure from 10.6% to 18.5%, 18.7%. The 50% increase [n health packages] by itself is a big addition, because we aim, eventually and hopefully, to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses to 25% to 30%.)
Mercado noted that PhilHealth will gradually make the adjustments over three years.
PhilHealth has implemented a 50% increase in around 9,000 health packages despite a zero government subsidy for 2025.
The hike covers hospital admissions starting January 1, 2025. It aims to “increase support value, decrease out-of-pocket payment, increase financial risk protection, and ensure the effective delivery of high-quality health services
PhilHealth also launched six new and expanded benefit packages that Filipinos may avail this year.
The House of Representatives has approved a bill reducing the PhilHealth contribution rate from 5% to 3.5%.
Meanwhile, the Senate approved its versions on the third and final reading last August 2024.
