“If my memory serves me right, Philhealth’s Type Z benefit package will cater to illnesses that push patients into prolonged hospitalization and very expensive treatment”
Thanks to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) in Region 3 for providing better benefits that come with quality service. Yes! They vowed to lessen the burden of the Philhealth members afflicted with catastrophic diseases by not just improving the benefits but also ensuring hassle-free availment. Tutu? Yes, it’s true.
In fact, last Friday, the Philhealth Office in Region 3, particularly in Pampanga has launched its newest “Z benefit” package to its members.
If my memory serves me right, Philhealth’s Type Z benefit package will cater to illnesses that push patients into prolonged hospitalization and very expensive treatment. It will cover childhood acute lymphocytic leukaemia in children, breast cancer with early stage or stage 0-111-A, prostate cancer or low to intermediate risk to known top diseases in the country.
Type Z Benefit Package will give aid to cancer patients by fully covering their medical expenses from surgery to post-operation care until therapy.
PhilHealth has allotted P3 billion for the Z benefit package, P1.3 billion of which will be used for the treatment of 12,000 people afflicted with either breast cancer, childhood leukaemia or prostate cancer.
PhilHealth will shoulder P100,000 for breast cancer; P210,000 for standard risk childhood acute lymphocytic leukaemia; and, P100,000 for prostate cancer.
The Z benefit package will pay for hospital services such as hospital room and board fees, drugs and laboratory exams, operating room and professional fees for the entire course of treatment, including mandatory and other services required per illness. It shall be paid directly to the reference hospital thus PhilHealth members will have their benefit automatically deducted from their total hospital bill.
Patients afflicted with these kinds of catastrophic illnesses in Central Luzon are fortunate enough as Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial Hospital or JBL is now accredited, contracted by Philhealth and committed to provide Z benefit package.
Philhealth officials said they really need to aggressively reduce household out-of-pocket health care costs, especially in times of catastrophic illnesses that may even or even further push Filipinos into poverty.
Those under the sponsored program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government units (LGUs) PhilHealth-sponsored program could avail of the “No Balance Billing” (NBB), or the “walang dagdag bayad” policy for Z benefit while fixed co-pay will be applied to non-sponsored members and about 70 to 80 percent will be paid by the PhilHealth.
In the case of breast cancer, Philhealth will cover about P100,000 or about 70 to 80 percent for treatment coverage and only about P30,000 will be shouldered by the patients itself in the non-sponsored members.
In addition to these cancers, the Philhealth executives assured members that in the coming days other diseases where Z benefit package had been developed or are being developed include end-stage renal disease and congenital cardiac diseases.
For the Philhealth members, conscientiously and consistently pay your quarterly or your annual premiums. Don’t forget!! Tara na! Magbayad na!
But above all, let’s pray to our Lord God to spare us from illnesses.
Let’s work for a healthy body. Let’s do some physical exercise.
Pero huwag po nating hangaring magkasakit just to avail the Philhealth Z benefit.
Gusto mo bang mag-avail? See!!!
(Joel P. Mapiles, PIO – Pampanga)
