President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged more private hospitals to implement the no balance billing and no-copayment policies of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), saying financial hardship should not prevent Filipinos from getting specialized medical care.
Marcos made the call on Tuesday following the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between PhilHealth and St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC)-Global City to expand access to private hospital services for qualified PhilHealth members.
‘This is so that people who get sick will no longer be afraid to go to private hospitals because they cannot afford to pay,’ Marcos said.
According to Marcos, the MOA between PhilHealth and SLMC ‘reflects a shared commitment to strengthen the implementation of the no co-payment policy and to support the government’s Universal Health Care agenda.’
‘By joining this effort, St. Luke’s also sends an important message: that quality care in leading private hospitals can be made more accessible to qualified PhilHealth members, and that both government and the private sector have a role in making Universal Health Care work,’ he added.
No out-of-pocket expenses
Under PhilHealth’s no co-payment policy, eligible PhilHealth members admitted to basic or ward accommodations in private hospitals do not have to pay additional charges or out-of-pocket expenses for medical services covered by PhilHealth.
The policy was initially limited to indigent patients but was expanded under Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act of 2019, covering all Filipinos regardless of their financial or employment status.
The initiative complements the Marcos administration’s zero balance billing program, which provides free hospital services to ward patients and is currently being implemented in 79 Department of Health (DOH) hospitals and the government’s four specialty centers, as well as the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital.
According to PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Beverly Lorraine Ho, SLMC initially allocated 53 beds for eligible patients requiring specialized treatment, 50 of which are already occupied.
PhilHealth spokesperson Dr. Alfred Philip de Dios, meanwhile, said the agreement covers all PhilHealth benefit packages and is not limited to any specific health case.
The MOA also establishes a joint mechanism between PhilHealth and SLMC Global City to monitor the implementation of the policy, improve processes, and gather evidence that could support future reforms to PhilHealth’s payment system.
The agreement forms part of the administration’s efforts to expand Filipinos’ access to quality and affordable healthcare by strengthening cooperation between the government and private hospitals.
‘We started with St. Luke’s, and we will expand this to more hospitals. We encourage more hospitals across the country to support PhilHealth in advancing Universal Health Care by embracing the no co-payment policy,’ Marcos said.
‘Together, let us ensure that no Filipino is denied the care they need simply because of financial hardship,’ he added. Aside from SLMC Global City in Taguig, three other top-tier private hospitals have expressed support for the policy. These are Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City, and The Medical City Ortigas in Pasig City