PhilHealth: COVID benefits still available

WITH coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases seeing a slight uptick, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) yesterday reminded the public that its benefit packages remain available.

In an advisory, PhilHealth said: “PhilHealth informs all members and healthcare providers that the COVID-19 benefits packages, which covers in-patient admission, are still in effect and can be availed in accredited health facilities.”

Based on existing In-Patient Care packages, P43,997 are set for mild pneumonia; P143,267 for moderate pneumonia; P333,519 for severe pneumonia; and P786,384 for critical pneumonia.

“These are for patients who are confirmed cases of COVID-19 that require hospitalization,” said PhilHealth.

In a separate phone interview, PhilHealth vice president for Corporate Affairs Rey Baleña said the COVID-19 benefits are set for adjustment in the coming months.

“The In-Patient Care packages are for rationalization this year as earlier committed,” said Baleña.

Last week, the Department of Health (DOH) reported a slight uptick in COVID-19 cases in the country after the average daily COVID-19 cases went up in the week of May 21 to 27 to 319 cases, from only 202 cases per day in the previous week.

The slight uptick in COVID-19 cases coincided with the detection of two cases of the so-called “FLiRT” subvariants.