PhilHealth beefs up member benefits

MORE benefits await members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) as the agency further enhances these returns.

Magnolia Del Rosario, PhilHealth–Cordillera Public Relations Officer III, revealed these enhanced benefits during a recent press conference in Baguio City.

She said the enhanced primary basic benefits entitles members to basic, quality health care services through accredited public health care providers nationwide. She added the Animal Bite Treatment package now defrays the cost of post–exposure prophylaxis treatment to qualified PhilHealth beneficiaries.

Moreover, she said the ‘Z benefit’ is the newest package of benefits which addresses fatal cases like childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia, breast and prostate cancers.

The agency also offers the leptospirosis benefits intended for those who are often affected by floods. On the other hand, the access benefit or the global budget payment program is still being implemented. This program aims to ensure that health services, supplies and drugs are provided to all members.

Last month, the agency entered into a memorandum of agreement with 11 leading pharmaceutical companies to reduce the prices of drugs especially for illnesses under the ‘Z benefit’. More negotiations were also done with other companies to provide discounts to members of PhilHealth.

The agency continues to inform the public on the No Balance Billing or known today as ‘Sapat Na’ benefit. This aims to help the less privileged members.

PhilHealth had just launched its e–services which covers the new website, online mapping services, e–registration facility, health insurance card and the e–claims project phase II.

The agency encourages the public who are not yet members to register to avail of these enhanced benefits.