(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The P284 billion 2025 budget of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) was approved by its Board of Directors, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Tuesday.聽
In a statement, DOH noted that the budget is 10 percent higher than the P259 billion allotted for 2024.
DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in the same statement that the 鈥渟urplus is a result of underspending for benefits through the years, which is why Filipino families pay high out of pocket.鈥�
鈥淭he Board approved higher benefits and a budget for 2025 that recognizes the need for PhilHealth to spend more so that families will spend less,鈥� Herbosa added.聽
The DOH said on Monday that PhilHealth still has enough funds to sustain operations since it has a P150 billion surplus despite being given zero subsidy in 2025.
The 2025 budget also includes P271 billion allotted for benefit expenses, where the increase is accounted for in the Board-approved increase in case rates, Z benefits, PhilHealth Konsulta at P1,700 and P2,100 capitation per person, and 156 hemodialysis sessions at P6,350 per session.
The increase also includes funds for emergency care, outpatient mental health, severe acute malnutrition, and other outpatient packages.
Meanwhile, the Board approved the increase of as much as 50 percent in selected case rates, in addition to the emergency care benefit, glasses and optometric services for children, open heart surgery benefits, and pediatric cataract extractions.聽
Last Wednesday, Senator Grace Poe said that PhilHealth will get zero subsidy in 2025 due to its P600 billion reserve funds.
She also said that the agency鈥檚 budget is among the contentious provisions of the 2025 budget bill.
In addition, members of the House of Representatives pointed out that the health insurance agency has enough reserve funds to sustain payouts for up to two years.