Manoy Wilbert ‘Wise’ Lee: Doubling Down on PhilHealth Benefits Amid Rising Health Care Costs
Manoy Wilbert ‘Wise’ Lee: Doubling Down on PhilHealth Benefits Amid Rising Health Care Costs As healthcare costs in the Philippines are projected to rise by 18.3% this year, AGRI Party-list Representative and Senatorial aspirant Manoy Wilbert Lee is calling for urgent action. With the Philippines posting one of the highest medical cost increases in Asia Pacific, Lee is urging the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to expedite and expand benefits to alleviate the burden on Filipinos. Healthcare Costs on the Rise The 2024 Global Medical Trends Survey conducted by WTW, a global advisory and solutions company, predicts a sharp increase in healthcare expenses in the Philippines, second only to Indonesia in the Asia Pacific region. The escalating costs threaten to undermine the gains of recent benefit enhancements, leaving many Filipinos vulnerable. “Kung magmamahal pa ang pagpapa-ospital ngayong taon, hindi rin gaanong mararamdaman ang mga dagdag na benepisyong ipinatupad ng PhilHealth,” Lee noted. His appeal to ramp up benefit increases stems from the belief that healthcare must remain accessible despite rising medical costs. Unlocking PhilHealth’s Billions Lee has repeatedly emphasized the need for PhilHealth and DOH to fully utilize the ₱500 billion available in funds, along with the annual government subsidy of over ₱100 billion. “Walang dapat sayangin dahil buhay ng mga kababayan natin ang nakasalalay dito,” he declared, urging both institutions to go above and beyond to meet their mandates. Lee’s consistent advocacy led to a historic 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits in February 2024 and, more recently, a 50% increase covering 9,000 case rates. However, he stresses that these milestones are not enough. “Nadagdagan na ang mga benepisyo, pero kaya pang bilisan at dagdagan ang mga ito,” he said, pushing for continuous improvements to fully realize the objectives of Universal Health Care. Commitments and Challenges The Bicolano lawmaker’s efforts have been pivotal in securing commitments from DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa and PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. during the 2025 DOH Budget deliberations. These include promises to further enhance benefits and expand coverage for critical treatments such as free dialysis, breast cancer treatment, and outpatient emergency care services. Lee’s advocacy has already resulted in significant improvements, such as: Increasing breast cancer treatment coverage from ₱100,000 to ₱1.4 million. Securing free eye checkups, cataract extractions, and prescription glasses. Expanding benefit packages for heart ailments and kidney transplants. Despite these victories, Lee continues to highlight the delays in fulfilling all the agreed-upon reforms. “Kung kailangan mag-overtime ng DOH at PhilHealth, gawin na ito,” he urged, emphasizing the urgency of addressing healthcare gaps. A Vision for Accessible Healthcare Lee’s campaign for healthcare reform is driven by a singular goal: to make medicines and medical treatments free for all Filipinos. His slogan, “Gamot Mo, Sagot Ko,” encapsulates his vision of a government that fully supports its citizens’ health needs. “Patuloy natin itong ipaglalaban dahil ang layunin ko: Gamot Mo, Sagot Ko!” Lee declared passionately. His efforts have inspired a growing movement, with more Filipinos joining his call for equitable, high-quality, and compassionate healthcare services. A Call to Action As Lee looks to the future, he remains steadfast in his mission to build a healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of every Filipino. “Ituloy lang natin ang paniningil at lakasan pa natin ang ating boses,” he urged, calling for collective action to achieve lasting reforms. The fight for better healthcare is far from over, but with leaders like Manoy Wilbert Lee at the forefront, Filipinos can look forward to a future where medical care is not a privilege but a right. #ManoyWilbertWiseLee #HealthcareReforms #GamotMoSagotKo #PhilHealthUpdates #UniversalHealthcarePH Healthcare Policy Previous Post Latest Posts 15 Jan 2025 Manoy Wilbert 'Wise' Lee: Doubling Down on PhilHealth Benefits Amid Rising Health Care Costs 08 Jan 2025 Amid expected 18% increase in PH health care costs LEE TO DOH, PHILHEALTH: RAMP UP MORE BENEFIT INCREASES WITH BILLIONS OF FUNDS 04 Jan 2025 Agriculture and Health: Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee’s Twin Pillars of Advocacy in 2024 Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News
Amid expected 18% increase in PH health care costs LEE TO DOH, PHILHEALTH: RAMP UP MORE BENEFIT INCREASES WITH BILLIONS OF FUNDS
Amid expected 18% increase in PH health care costs LEE TO DOH, PHILHEALTH: RAMP UP MORE BENEFIT INCREASES WITH BILLIONS OF FUNDS “Paspasan pa ang pagdaragdag ng benepisyo!” This was the statement of AGRI Party-list Representative and Senatorial aspirant Manoy Wilbert Lee as he reiterated his call to further increase benefits provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in response to the projected 18.3% increase in health care costs in the Philippines this year. In the latest Global Medical Trends Survey conducted by WTW, a global advisory, broking and solutions company, the Philippines is expected to post the double digit increase in medical costs, the second highest in Asia Pacific next to Indonesia which is expected to incur 19.4% increase. “Kung magmamahal pa ang pagpapa-ospital ngayong taon, hindi rin gaanong mararamdaman ang mga dagdag na benepisyong ipinatupad ng PhilHealth. Kaya dapat lang na dagdagan pa ito para naman talagang mabawasan ang pangamba at alalahanin ng ating mga kababayan sa pagkakasakit,” the solon from Bicol said. “DOH as the head of PhilHealth Board and the state health insurer itself must ramp up its efforts to utilize the more than P500 billion, or half a trillion available funds to further increase the benefits and genuinely achieve the objectives of Universal Health Care,” Lee said. The Bicolano lawmaker likewise reiterated his call to leave no stone unturned to completely allay the fears of Filipinos from falling ill as they fear sinking further into poverty due to their inability to buy medicines and afford high hospital costs. “Nadagdagan na ang mga benepisyo, pero kaya pang bilisan at dagdagan ang mga ito. Kung kailangan mag-overtime ng DOH at PhilHealth, gawin na ito. Walang dapat sayangin dahil buhay ng mga kababayan natin ang nakasalalay dito at sobrang delayed na rin ng implementasyon nito,” Lee said. It can be recalled that the Bicolano lawmaker was the first to expose in September 2023 that PhilHealth had enormous available funds amounting to more than P500 billion, aside from the more than P100 billion government subsidy every year. While Lee acknowledges the recent implementation of another 50% increase in PhilHealth benefits covering 9,000 case rates, a result of his consistent push to improve the country’s healthcare services, he emphasizes that there’s still a lot to be done, highlighting the other commitments he sealed that DOH and PhilHealth have yet to comply with. The said commitment was signed by no less than DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa and PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. during the House Plenary deliberations on the 2025 DOH Budget that ended in a mic scuffle last September 25. Aside from the recent 50% increase, Lee was also instrumental in the 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits which started on February 14, after more than a decade of case rates not being reviewed or adjusted. Lee also prevailed in pushing for free dialysis, increase in coverage for breast cancer treatment from P100,000 to P1.4 million, free eye checkup, free cataract extraction and free prescription glasses, and pushing for expanded benefits on heart ailments, new benefit packages for outpatient emergency care services and kidney transplant. “Marami na tayong napagtagumpayan, pero hindi matatapos ang ating pangangalampag hangga’t hindi pa libre ang gamot at pagpapagamot ng mga Pilipino. Dapat sagot na ito ng gobyerno. Patuloy natin itong ipaglalaban dahil ang layunin ko: Gamot Mo, Sagot Ko!” Lee said. “Marami na rin tayong kasama sa panawagan na ito na ating sinimulan mahigit isang taon na ang nakakaraan. Ituloy lang natin ang paniningil at lakasan pa natin ang ating boses para tuluyang makamit ang isang patas, de-kalidad at mapagmalasakit na serbisyong pangkalusugan sa bansa,” he added. ### Healthcare Policy Previous Post Latest Posts 09 Jan 2025 Amid expected 18% increase in PH health care costs LEE TO DOH, PHILHEALTH: RAMP UP MORE BENEFIT INCREASES WITH BILLIONS OF FUNDS 04 Jan 2025 Agriculture and Health: Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee’s Twin Pillars of Advocacy in 2024 03 Jan 2025 PhilHealth Reforms: How Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee Redefined Healthcare in 2024 Categories Healthcare Policy Public Health Initiatives Healthcare Ethics and Legal Issues Healthcare Access and Equity Spread the News