No PhilHealth subsidy in Marcos-approved 2025 budget

Metro Manila, Philippines— The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will not receive any subsidy from the government in the newly-approved P6.326 trillion national budget for 2025.

This follows confirmation from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who approved the budget after a series of discussions in the legislature.

During a press briefing on Monday, December 30, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman clarified that PhilHealth’s allocation will not include any additional funding from the government.

“Kapag wala na po sa enrolled bill, wala po, wala po siya, hindi po natin puwedeng dagdagan po iyon," Pangandaman said.

[Translation: If it is no longer included in the enrolled bill, then it is not there, we cannot add to it.]

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto further assured that PhilHealth will have sufficient funds to operate next year, even without the government’s subsidy. According to Recto, the state-run insurer is projected to generate significant revenue in 2025.

"They will earn 200 billion in 2025. They will spend a hundred fifty billion, so their surplus will increase by another 50 billion. So, they have adequate resources," Recto explained.

He also emphasized that the Department of Finance (DOF) will closely monitor how PhilHealth utilizes its budget in the coming year, to ensure funds are spent effectively.

“We in the Department of Finance next year, tututukan namin ang PhilHealth. We will make sure that we spend that budget better. Halimbawa, I’ll give you an example, maybe we should concentrate on the top ten illnesses. Palagay ko, iyon lang, itaas natin hundred percent, two hundred percent benefit package of the top ten illnesses – malaki ang pakinabang ng taumbayan diyan," Recto added.

[Translation: "We in the Department of Finance will focus on PhilHealth next year. We will make sure that we spend that budget better. For example, maybe we should concentrate on the top ten illnesses. I believe that’s it, let’s increase the benefit package for the top ten illnesses by 100%, 200% – this will greatly benefit the people.]

The absence of a government subsidy for PhilHealth comes as part of the Marcos administration's push to streamline government spending and optimize existing resources.