Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Sunday lauded the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (PhilHealth) expansion of benefits as instructed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., particularly its new outpatient emergency care coverage and increased case rate packages for critical illnesses, calling it a significant step toward making universal healthcare more accessible and affordable for Filipinos.
“This is the kind of reform directly felt by the people. More Filipinos can now seek immediate medical attention. They no longer have to wait for so long or to fear of high cost before going to a hospital,” he said.
With the introduction of the Facility-Based Emergency benefit in accordance with the Outpatient Emergency Care Benefit package, PhilHealth members can now receive emergency medical attention in accredited hospitals even without being admitted.
Previously, many low-income patients were turned away or forced to delay treatment because PhilHealth only covered hospital confinement.
PhilHealth has significantly increased case rate packages for nearly 9,000 medical conditions, providing higher financial coverage for pneumonia, cancer treatments, heart surgeries, maternal health services and other costly treatments.
Romualdez noted the adjustments provide much-needed financial relief for Filipino families.
“Sickness should not be a burden on every Filipino’s pocket. Before, a simple illness like pneumonia could lead to crippling debt. Now, PhilHealth covers more, and more lives are being saved,” he said.
While celebrating this milestone, the Speaker acknowledged that further improvements are necessary to make healthcare more accessible and efficient.
He stressed the need for faster claims processing, better hospital accreditation to ensure more facilities can provide PhilHealth-covered treatments, and stronger public awareness campaigns to educate Filipinos on their expanded benefits.
Romualdez reaffirmed his commitment to prioritizing healthcare reforms that protect Filipinos from financial burdens and ensure that quality medical services are available to all.
He said expanding PhilHealth’s coverage is only the beginning — what matters now is ensuring that these benefits are implemented effectively and reach those who need them the most.
“This is a big step, but the fight is not over. The real challenge is to ensure that no Filipino is deprived of medical services. The process should be easy, fast, and efficient. Health services should not be a privilege — it should be a right for every Filipino,” he said.