‘FINALLY!’ 30% INCREASE ON PHILHEALTH BENEFITS LEE PUSHED FOR TO BE IMPLEMENTED
‘Finally!’ 30% Increase On PhilHealth Benefits Lee Pushed For To Be Implemented “Sa wakas, yung ipinaglalaban natin na 30% increase sa PhilHealth benefits, aprubado na.” This was the statement of AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee as he welcomed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Board of Director’s (BOD) approval on Wednesday of the 30% increase on the benefits it offers to allay fears of Filipinos of getting sick because they cannot afford medical treatment or hospital expenses. “We thank the PhilHealth’s Board of Directors and its Executive Committee, led by BOD Chairman Sec. Teodoro Herbosa and PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., for heeding our relentless call to implement the 30% increase on its health packages and coverage,” said the legislator. “Malaking tulong ang dagdag na suportang ito ng PhilHealth sa pagpapagamot o pagpapa-ospital ng milyon-milyong Pilipino.” In his letter addressed to Ledesma and his filed House Resolution No. 1407, Lee urged the PhilHealth management to implement a 30% increase in all its benefit packages and coverage. According to the Bicolano lawmaker, it is high time that the PhilHealth update its coverage since its case rate has not been updated for over a decade and is no longer responsive to the hospitalization cost of the beneficiaries. “Dahil sa inflation, nagtaasan na lahat ng presyo—pagkain, tubig, petrolyo, gamot, pati mga bayad sa serbisyo, kasama ang pagpapa-ospital. Kaya dapat lang na mag-adjust na ang PhilHealth sa sinasagot nitong mga bayarin para mas makatulong sa mga miyembro,” Lee said. Lee stressed that “kapag nagkasakit, marami ang hindi nakakapagtrabaho, walang kita, nagagalaw ang budget para sa ibang pangangailangan, nauubos ang ipon at nalulubog sa utang. Kaya bukod sa sakit, lalo pang sumasama ang pakiramdam ng marami sa atin dahil sa mga dagdag na gastusin.” It can be recalled that upon Lee’s questioning during the deliberation of the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Health on September 2023, it was revealed that PhilHealth had P466 billion worth of investible funds and P68.4 billion net income. According to Lee, “Amid these challenging times, we need a more accessible, compassionate and affordable health care for all Filipinos. Malaki ang papel dito ng PhilHealth. They should ensure that the funds it yielded from its investments and income must be returned to its contributors and beneficiaries in a form of its expanded benefit packages and coverage.” The lawmaker also urged PhilHealth to remove the limit and fully cover dialysis sessions, cancer treatment, heart bypass surgery, and other diagnostic tests and preventive measures, as well as the effective implementation of the No Balance Billing policy to lessen the out-of-pocket medical expenses of patients and their families. “Winner Tayo Lahat sa 30% increase na ito sa PhilHealth coverage. Patuloy nating tututukan ang maayos na implementasyon nito, hanggang maabot ang pangarap natin na anuman ang estado sa lipunan, mayaman man o mahirap, walang takot o pangamba tayong makapagpapagamot dahil wala na o konti na lang ang babayaran dahil sa tulong ng PhilHealth.” Healthcare Policy Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts 07 Nov 2024 Lee Blasts DOH For Failure To Submit Comprehensive Plan To Lower Out-Of-Pocket Medical Costs 06 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee’s Push for Free Optometric Services to Benefit 40M Filipinos 05 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee Welcomes Inclusion of Free Eyeglasses in PhilHealth Benefits Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Implementing increase in all PhilHealth benefits, injustice to millions: ‘Filipinos deserve better!’ – Lee
Delay in implementing increase in all PhilHealth benefits, injustice to millions: ‘Filipinos deserve better!’ – Lee Amid the impending five (5%) increase in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) premium rates this year as scheduled under the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee reiterated his call to immediately apply the 30% across-the-board increase in the agency’s offered health benefits, saying that any delay in implementing the increase is an injustice to Filipinos. “Nalulungkot at nadidismaya po tayo na mukhang mauuna pang maipatupad ang dagdag na singil sa premium ng PhilHealth doon sa matagal na nating panawagan na 30% increase sa lahat ng benefit packages and coverage ng ahensya,” Lee said. “Habang pinatatagal ang pagpapatupad ng hinihingi nating increase, marami ang pinipiling tiisin na lang ang karamdaman kaysa magpagamot at marami din ang di-magkandaugaga sa pag-aalala kung saan kukuha ng pambayad sa ospital,” he added. PhilHealth on Friday announced that its premium rate will increase to 5% from the previous 4%. The state health insurer said that P17-B will be collected as an additional revenue of the agency due to the increased premium rates to be used in expanding the benefits and programs it offers to members. Even before the scheduled increase on PhilHealth premium rates, Lee has consistently and persistently stressed that the agency had the funds to cover much-needed increases in members’ benefits. It can be recalled that in September last year during the DOH budget briefing, Lee revealed that PhilHealth had P466-B worth of investible funds and P68.4-B net income. Given these available funds, he urged the agency to expand its healthcare package offered to our countrymen. In a letter addressed to PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. on October 2023, Lee formally requested in writing and recommended to the PhilHealth management a 30% increase in all benefit packages and coverage provided by the Corporation. According to the lawmaker from Bicol, “Anong pakinabang ng sobra-sobrang pondo sa PhilHealth kung natutulog lang ito sa bangko at hindi nagagamit pandagdag sa serbisyo para sa mga miyembro? Malaking kasalanan at inhustisya ito kung hindi agad gamitin para tulungan at pagaanin ang pasanin ng mga nangangailangan.” Lee also filed House Resolution No. 1407 on October 2023 urging the PhilHealth to adjust its coverage since its case rate has not been reviewed for over a decade and is no longer responsive to the hospitalization cost of the beneficiaries. Lee stated that “Dahil sa inflation, umaaray ang lahat sa nagtaasang presyo ng mga bilihin at serbisyo. For example, room rates in hospitals have increased—ang dating P1,000, nasa P1,500 na. At itong case rates o basehan kung gaano kalaki ang sinasagot ng PhilHealth sa mga bayarin sa pagpapagamot ng iba’t ibang sakit, 11 na taon na itong hindi narereview kung angkop at sapat pa ba ang naitutulong. Malaking bagay kung maitataas natin ng 30% ang sinasagot ng PhilHealth in all packages and benefits.” The lawmaker also said that PhilHealth should have no limit on its covered dialysis sessions, chemotherapy, heart bypass surgery, and other diagnostic tests and preventive measures to ease the burden of patients and their families. “It is inevitable that our countrymen worry about getting sick because of the high costs of quality medical care. Kung ang mayayaman nga naba-bankrupt ‘pag tinamaan ng malubhang sakit, paano pa ang mahihirap nating kababayan?” the solon asked. “Winner Tayo Lahat kung ang PhilHealth ay hindi umaastang isang state investment company, at kung tutuparin nito ang mandatong maging maaasahan, may puso at may malasakit na health insurance provider,” he added. Healthcare Policy Next Post Latest Posts 07 Nov 2024 Lee Blasts DOH For Failure To Submit Comprehensive Plan To Lower Out-Of-Pocket Medical Costs 06 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee’s Push for Free Optometric Services to Benefit 40M Filipinos 05 Nov 2024 Cong. Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee Welcomes Inclusion of Free Eyeglasses in PhilHealth Benefits Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News