It is feared that some Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) services and benefits packages will be halted for the next four days due to deficiencies in the agency’s response to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Philhealth said it happened since many businesses shut down because of the virus, which has stopped the collection of premiums.
The state insurer estimated to lose P100 billion by 2024 due to lower collections, according to Philhealth president Ricardo Morales.
“Aside from praying, what we can do is try to identify which benefits we can suspend temporarily,” said Morales in an interview with ANC, Friday.
“‘Yung mga life saving like ‘yung mga dialysis and the other treatments that are life supporting, we cannot stop that,” he added.
They have yet to specify which services will be postponed, but some of being considered now are some transplant procedures.
The impending suspension will also affect those who complete Philhealth payments. It is also at risk today if there is sufficient funding for the implementation of the universal healthcare law.
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Some Philhealth benefits may be suspended amid COVID-19
It was May 15 when Philhealth formally stopped free treatment for all COVID-19 cases, prompting them to release case rates.
Before that date, the agency was covering the total cost of the COVID-19 related charges, even though the bill reached millions.
“People are avoiding hospitals. So there is a drop in their admissions… Talagang the impact of the COVID-19 cannot be underestimated. It is most heavily felt in the health sector,” Morales added.
Under the Universal Health Care Law, all Filipinos are covered by Philhealth. However, it has set a case rate package that determines the maximum amount the state insurer could shoulder for a particular illness. The patient will have to pay for the remaining balance through his own money or personal health insurance.
President Rodrigo Duterte, earlier said PhilHealth benefits for COVID-19 cases, would cover medical expenses ranging from P3,409 for testing to P786,834 for critical cases of pneumonia.
Patients with mild pneumonia will receive P43,997, P143,267 for moderate pneumonia, P333,519 for severe pneumonia, and P786,384 fro critical pneumonia.