Photo credit: Bong Go

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday, August 27, asked the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to expand its benefit programs in light of the state insurer’s billions of pesos unused funds.

These with serious illnesses, including persons with heart disease and coronary artery disease, considered the top causes of deaths in the Philippines in 2023 by the Philippine Statistics Authority, would benefit from this expansion through higher case rates.

Senator Go lamented that angioplasty, which is the curative treatment for cardiovascular disease, only has a case rate of 30,000 to 39,000 while the actual cost of treatment is a little more than PhP300,000.00.

PhilHealth initially hiked its case rates by 30% last January. Once the case rate increase would materialize in December, it would total to 60% for 2024.

Also included in the expansion of program benefits are subsidies for dialysis, mental health, Z-benefit packages for serious illnesses, Konsulta package and dental packages.

Senator Go asked why PhilHealth’s benefit packages remain insufficient with patients making out-of-the-pocket payments given PhilHealth’s sound financial standing.

“Bakit may P500 billion na pondo ang PhilHealth na hindi nagagamit na puwede naming gamitin para mas palawakin at palakasin pa ang benefits packages,” Go said.

Senator Bong Go took the occasion to stress that funds for health should be for left for health alone adding that funds allotted to PhilHealth are for the implementation of the programs of the Universal Health Care.

“Hindi katanggap tanggap na may pondong natutulog lang po na hindi nagamit para matulungan ang bawat Pilipinong miyembro naman po ng PhilHealth,” Go explained.

Senator Go underscored that health is a fundamental right, not a commodity and wants to eliminate the idea of healthcare as an entitlement and as a privilege of the few who can afford to pay.

“Bakit marami pa rin ang hindi nagpapa-konsulta, takot magpa-ospital, o magpatingin sa doctor,” Go asked.

Senator Go added that every peso and every centavo are important. Hence, every Filipino, including overseas Filipino workers abroad, who remit PhilHealth contributions should be accorded proper service.

It is totally unacceptable, according to Sen. Go, for PhilHealth members not to be able to benefit from its services during their hour of need.

“Aanuhin mo pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo,” Go said adding that for every patient deprived of PhilHealth’s benefit packages would mean an exchange of life lost.