PhilHealth boosts 'Yakap' in C. Luzon

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said it has strengthened the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program or YAKAP program in Central Luzon.

Formerly known as PhilHealth Konsulta, YAKAP retains coverage for consultations, laboratory tests, and medicines.

The program is now expanded to include cancer screening for lung, liver, breast, and colorectal cancers. It also significantly increased the number of covered medicines from 21 to 75 essential medicines.

From January to June 2025, Philhealth has disbursed P20.7 billion in benefits across Central Luzon, including expanded outpatient and preventive services under YAKAP.

The region now has 12.56 million registered members and dependents, representing 96 percent of the total population.

Philhealth assured the public that local health facilities, including those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, are being mobilized through partnerships with the Department of Health, local government units, and the education sector to bring YAKAP services to all.

The public can now register and access YAKAP services through the eGov PH App for more convenient access to their healthcare needs, as well as access their records, PhilHealth ID, and see their assigned YAKAP clinic.

PhilHealth said it has also implemented a 50 percent increase in rates for over 9,000 benefit packages starting this year.

These include dengue fever from P10,000 to P19,500; severe dengue from P16,000 to P47,000; caesarean section from P19,000 to P37,050; hemodialysis from P2,600 to P6,350 per session or 156 sessions per year; and Z-benefits such as breast cancer from P100,000 to P1.4 million and kidney transplant from P600,000 to P2.1 million.