PhilHealth to fully cover Cebu quake victims’ medical costs, even in private hospitals

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will shoulder the full hospitalization costs of victims of the powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu, including treatment in private facilities.

“All of these patients will be covered on a no-balance billing with PhilHealth para pati yung casualties sa earthquake, makapunta sa private hospital and then matreat sila,” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa announced during in a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Herbosa said he has directed PhilHealth President and CEO Edwin Mercado to issue a formal order implementing this policy, similar to the one rolled out in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

He added that during the Yolanda response, the Department of Health (DOH) temporarily took over operations of all health facilities for six months—an option they are also considering for quake-affected areas in Cebu.

Herbosa reported receiving information of 63 deaths from the powerful quake on Sept. 30, while official data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council lists 26 dead and 147 injured.

The health chief was at the Senate to discuss the proposed P320.5 million budget for the DOH and its attached agencies for next year. He noted that the DOH still has P166 million in its quick response fund and may request additional funding from the Department of Budget and Management.

A zero-balance billing policy is already in place in DOH-run hospitals to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for patients. However, Senator Pia Cayetano, vice chair of the Senate finance committee, pointed out that 40 provinces across the country still do not have a single DOH hospital.