QUEZON CITY, – As the rainy season continues, the prevalence of water and vector-borne diseases such as leptospirosis and dengue also increases.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), however, assured the public that members can avail of benefit packages for leptospirosis and dengue in case of hospitalization.
The benefit package for dengue fever is currently at P13,000 while the dengue hemorrhagic fever is at P16,000. On the other hand, the benefit package for leptospirosis covers P14,300.
The increase in the coverage for severe dengue hemorrhagic fever from P16,000 to P47,000 is also expected to take effect following the issuance of policy.
PhilHealth stressed that all Filipinos are eligible to avail of these benefit packages at any PhilHealth-accredited health facilities nationwide throughout the entire year, including members with missed payments or have concerns with their contributions.
The accredited hospitals and other health facilities of PhilHealth should observe the policy of providing the rightful benefits to members prior to discharge. Issues related to member contribution can be settled after they received the assistance and the treatment they need, PhilHealth noted.
“We continue to remind our members that they are supposed to enjoy your benefits prior to discharge from the facility, even if one has concerns on their contributions,” said PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer (PCEO) Emmanuel Ledesma, Jr.
“Ang mahalaga ay nagamot muna ang pasyente at nagamit ang benepisyo. Ito po ang esensiya ng Universal Health Care (The important thing is the patient was treated and the benefit was provided. This is the essence of Universal Health Care),” he added.
Ledesma meanwhile emphasized the commitment of the state insurer to further enhance its benefit plans and expand its services towards the advancement of Universal Health Care.
“Your PhilHealth is aggressively enhancing the other benefit packages to provide adequate financial risk protection to all our kababayans,” said the PhilHealth chief.
The Department of Health (DOH) has reported a 33 percent increase in dengue cases in the country, with 128,833 recorded infections from January 1 to July 27, 2024 as compared to 97,211 cases during the same period in 2023.
Meanwhile, the health department recorded a total number of 2,115 cases of leptospirosis from January 1 to August 3, 2024 which was 23 percent lower than the 2,757 recorded cases in the same period last year.
For its part, PhilHealth has already paid claims amounting to P14.7 million for leptospirosis and more than P1 billion for the claims of both hemorrhagic and severe dengue. (JMP/PhilHealth)