During the Senate hearing on Friday, September 4, Go directly asked whether PhilHealth currently shoulders enough of patients’ expenses.
“Maliit po talaga,” Go stressed as he discussed the continuing limitations of health insurance coverage.
The hearing acknowledged that PhilHealth benefits have already increased but still do not fully cover many patients’ healthcare expenses.
When Go asked about the adequacy of current benefits, the chair noted that coverage had increased but “hindi pa rin po niya fully nako-cover ’yung kailangan i-cover.”
Health Secretary Edwin Mercado, who previously led PhilHealth, said his own recent hospitalization received substantial coverage because his case already fell under the newer packages.
Go welcomed the improvements but stressed that the situation before the recent benefit increases demonstrated how inadequate case rates had become.
He again cited the case of the late Camarines Norte provincial health officer Dr. Walter Jalgalado, whose family previously reported that PhilHealth shouldered only around P57,000 from two hospitalizations with combined bills of roughly P10 million. The case had also been raised in earlier Senate health hearings.
“A total of P57,000 out of P10 million na hospital billing niya. That is less than 1%,” Go said.
He said even a 50-percent increase from such a low base would still leave families carrying most of the financial burden.
“Kahit tinaasan ng PhilHealth... napakaliit pa rin po ang nako-cover ng PhilHealth,” he said.
Go reiterated that the fundamental purpose of PhilHealth is to use its resources for healthcare rather than simply accumulate reserves.
“Wala sanang excess funds kasi wala naman talagang excess funds ang PhilHealth. Puwede niyo namang gamitin sa mga mahihirap po ito para hindi sila matakot magpa-hospital,” he stressed.
PhilHealth has already expanded several benefits after sustained congressional pressure. Its board approved another round of increases in selected case rates of up to 50 percent beginning in 2025, alongside additional packages for emergency care and other services.
Go acknowledged these reforms, including the removal of the Single Period of Confinement policy and improvements in emergency outpatient benefits, but urged the new PhilHealth leadership to continue reviewing outdated restrictions and insufficient packages.
He also pushed for wider implementation of Zero Balance Billing and stronger public awareness of available benefits.
“Marami pa rin pong Pilipinong takot magpa-ospital,” Go said.
He stressed that PhilHealth funds should ultimately translate into a simple outcome: fewer Filipinos forced to borrow money, seek assistance from multiple government offices, or avoid medical treatment altogether because their insurance coverage remains too small.
Senator Bong Go
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