PhilHealth asked to increase benefit package for common illnesses

Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto proposed last week a substantial increase in the benefit packages offered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for the country’s 10 most common illnesses.

Recto suggested that enhancing these benefit packages would ensure the efficient use of PhilHealth’s resources. He shared this recommendation during a press conference at Malacañang Palace following the signing of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“Maybe we should focus on the top 10 illnesses. I think that’s it. Let’s increase the benefit package for the top 10 illnesses by 100 percent, even 200 percent. This would greatly benefit the public,” Recto stated.

Notably, PhilHealth did not receive any subsidy allocation under the 2025 GAA signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman clarified that while the President has the authority to veto line items in the budget, he cannot introduce additional allocations once the bill is finalized.

Recto noted that PhilHealth has a substantial reserve fund of P280 billion.

“My understanding is that Congress did that because the operating budget of PhilHealth is sufficient,” he explained. “They have a surplus of roughly P150 billion the last time I looked at it. They have investments of more than P400 billion. They will probably earn P200 billion in 2025. They will spend the 150 billion.”

The DOF, Recto assured, will closely monitor PhilHealth’s expenditures to guarantee the effective utilization of its funds in 2025.