13 million C. Luzon residents to benefit from expanded PhilHealth healthcare program

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has announced a major expansion of its benefit packages in an attempt to improve access to healthcare and financial security for the 13 million residents of Central Luzon.

During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas, Acting Vice President Henry Almanon of PhilHealth Regional Office III reported that improvements are part of efforts to strengthen the Universal Health Care program and ensure that more Filipinos have access to affordable healthcare.

Hemodialysis coverage has grown dramatically, rising from 144% to P6,350 each session for up to 156 treatments annually.

Almanon added that the Kidney Transplantation Z Package has expanded from 44% to 249% to offer up to P2.1 million in funding for transplant treatments that potentially save lives.

Furthermore, coverage for heart attacks and severe dengue hemorrhagic fever, with support for heart attack patients, increased from P21,900 to over P523,000.

In an effort to decrease hospital admissions and emphasize preventive care, PhilHealth is also improving its outpatient services.

These revisions cover pediatric optometric services for children ages 0 to 15, preventative dental services under the Konsulta Program, and full coverage for outpatient emergency care.

PhilHealth has likewise extended its chemotherapy coverage to include patients with lung, liver, ovarian, and prostate cancers in response to the rising number of cancer cases.

The New Z Benefit Packages will also cover open heart procedures, heart valve surgeries, and treatments for kids with disabilities.