PhilHealth introduces coronavirus package

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth) introduced a benefit package for Persons under Investigation (PUI) for possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who are admitted to accredited facilities for isolation, quarantine, or treatment.

“PhilHealth will pay for the hospital care of the patient, whether the result is positive or negative,” according to Atty. Valerie Anne H. Hollero, Acting Regional Vice-President of PhilHealth-6.

For confirmed cases of COVID-19 with mild symptoms and for PUIs who tested negative but were admitted for quarantine purposes, PhilHealth has a case rate of P14,000.

A case rate of P4,000 for a referral package may also be claimed by a lower level hospital for the initial management, stabilization, and transfer of the patient to the higher level hospital.

Earlier, PhilHealth President & CEO Ricardo C. Morales directed all accredited hospitals to accept all PUIs noting that “refusal to provide care to said patients shall be considered a violation of the signed Performance Commitment.”

Treatment for COVID-19 may be availed in all Levels 3 and 2 hospitals and some Level 1 licensed hospitals identified by the Department of Health (DOH) that have the capacity to provide quarantine to PUIs. (PRO0-6/Public Affairs Unit/L. G. Lira)